LINDSBORG, Kan. — Bethany College volleyball earned a straight-set victory over Randall University, defeating the Saints 25-22, 25-21, 25-16. The Swedes finished the match with 47 kills while hitting .250 as a team and totaled eight service aces and 52 digs.
Bethany had to battle from behind early in the opening set after Randall jumped out to a 4-0 advantage. The Swedes gradually chipped away at the deficit and tied the set at 15-15 before the teams continued trading points. With the score tied at 18, Bethany used kills from Kailyn Jefferson and Antonette Carochi along with a Randall attack error to take control. Ashlynn Gehring delivered the final two kills to close out the 25-22 first-set victory.
Randall again took control early in the second set and built a 14-7 lead. Bethany responded with a seven-point run to even the score at 14-14, highlighted by three kills from Gehring, two from Carochi and a service ace from Lanie McClanahan. The Swedes eventually moved ahead 20-19 and finished the set with a strong closing stretch. Jefferson accounted for three kills late in the frame as Bethany completed the comeback with a 25-21 win.
The Swedes carried the momentum into the third set. After the score was tied at 5-5, Bethany pulled ahead behind its serving and offensive attack. Josie McLean recorded two service aces during an early run that helped the Swedes build an 11-5 advantage. Bethany continued to extend the lead, and Gehring finished the match with a kill to secure the 25-16 victory and complete the sweep.
Gehring led the Bethany offense with a match-high 15 kills while hitting .367 and added 16 digs for a double-double. Jefferson followed with 10 kills, while Carochi finished with eight. McLean contributed six kills, 19 assists and four service aces, while Kylee Harris recorded 18 assists, nine digs and five kills. Keylian Gomez Quiles added eight digs.
Bethany saved its strongest offensive performance for the final set, recording 14 kills with only two errors on 23 attacks for a .522 hitting percentage. The Swedes held Randall to a .138 hitting percentage for the match while finishing with a 47-25 advantage in kills.
