North Newton, Kan. – The Bethany College volleyball team put up a strong fight on the road but came up short against Bethel College, falling in three sets (20-25, 14-25, 19-25) Wednesday, October 8th.
The Swedes opened the match with solid energy, trading points early with the Threshers before Bethel pulled away late in the first set. Bethany showed resilience throughout the contest, highlighted by several standout performances at the net and in the back row. Blanca Ariciniega Palma led the Swedes’ offense with 8 kills and added a block assist, pacing a balanced Bethany attack that saw seven different players record a kill. Jordyn Carpenter chipped in 5 kills and 2 block assists, while Auriana Nails made a strong impact off the bench with 4 kills on an efficient .333 hitting percentage. Running the offense was Ashlynn Gehring, who finished with 13 assists to go along with 12 digs for another all-around performance. Danairis Ortiz Reyes added 8 assists and a dig, helping to steady the Swedes’ offense.
Defensively, Michelle Acevedo Ortiz anchored the back row with a team-leading 16 digs, continuing her strong play as Bethany’s defensive specialist. Trinity McCollister added 6 digs and an ace, providing consistent serve-receive coverage and energy throughout the match. At the net, Antonette Carochi and Bailee Abd-Al-Khaliq contributed to Bethany’s 10 total team blocks, giving the Swedes an edge in net defense.
The Swedes’ best stretch came in the opening set, when they hit .194 as a team and battled point-for-point through the first half of the frame before Bethel’s offense found its rhythm. Bethany regrouped late in the third set, stringing together a series of kills from Ariciniega Palma and Carpenter to close the gap, but the Threshers closed out the match with a final push. Bethany finished the night with 27 kills, 44 digs, and 10 team blocks, showcasing continued growth in both offensive balance and defensive tenacity.
Up next, the Swedes are hosting the York University Panthers, Wednesday, October 15th starting at 5pm for Devo., and 7pm for varsity in Hahn Gymnasium.
