ATCHISON, Kan. — The Bethany College volleyball team opened its 2026 season with three matches at Ralph Nolan Gymnasium in Atchison, facing Benedictine College and Crowley’s Ridge College on Thursday before closing the tournament against Baker University on Friday.
The Swedes finished the opening weekend 0-3, but showed flashes throughout the tournament, including a first-set victory against Crowley’s Ridge and several strong individual performances.
GAME 1: 0-3
Bethany opened the season Thursday morning against Benedictine, falling to the Ravens in straight sets, 25-17, 25-16 and 25-9.
Ashlynn Gehring led the Bethany attack with 10 kills while adding 10 digs for a double-double. Antonette Carochi finished with three kills on seven attempts without an attack error for a team-best .429 hitting percentage. Josie McLean recorded three kills, 11 assists, 10 digs and a service ace. Keylian Gomez Quiles contributed a team-high 11 digs.
The Swedes remained within striking distance during the opening two sets before Benedictine pulled away. Bethany recorded 10 kills in the second set, its highest total of the match. Benedictine finished the contest hitting .359 while Bethany recorded 22 kills.
GAME 2: 1-3
Bethany returned to the court Thursday afternoon and produced its strongest start of the tournament against Crowley’s Ridge. The Swedes captured the opening set 25-23 before the Pioneers responded to take the next three sets, 25-19, 25-17 and 25-11.
The opening set featured a back-and-forth battle. With the score tied at 21, Kailyn Jefferson delivered a kill before a Crowley’s Ridge attack error moved Bethany ahead 23-21. Graci Hanson later put the Swedes at set point with a kill, and Bethany closed out the 25-23 victory on a block from Hanson and Irelynn Shields.
Gehring turned in another strong performance, leading the Swedes with 17 kills and 14 digs while also recording an ace. McLean added eight kills, 16 assists and 12 digs. Elizabeth Martin distributed 10 assists and added an ace, while Gomez Quiles recorded 12 digs.
Hanson contributed three kills, two service aces and three block assists. Bethany finished the match with 37 kills, 36 assists, five aces and 56 digs.
GAME 3: 0-3
The Swedes closed the tournament Friday morning against Baker, falling 25-19, 25-9 and 25-13. The result moved Bethany to 0-3 on the young season.
Bethany’s best push came in the opening set. After falling behind 4-1, the Swedes put together a five-point stretch to take a 6-4 advantage. Elizabeth Martin later delivered a service ace to extend the lead to 8-5, and Bethany pushed its advantage to 11-7 before Baker rallied.
The Swedes remained within one at 17-16 after a Hanson service ace before Baker closed the set on an 8-3 run. Bethany continued to battle in the third set, jumping out to a 5-2 advantage behind a kill from Shields and blocks involving Hanson, Jefferson and Shields.
Shields led Bethany offensively against Baker with four kills, while Jefferson and McLean each added three. Harris recorded a team-high 15 digs and six assists, while McLean finished with 12 digs. Martin and Gomez Quiles each added eight digs. Hanson was active at the net with four block assists and also recorded one of Bethany’s two service aces.
Bethany finished the three-match opening stretch with valuable early-season experience against a trio of opponents. The Swedes showed their strongest offensive performance against Crowley’s Ridge, recording 37 kills and capturing their first set victory of the season.
