NORTH SIOUX CITY, S.D. (BethanySwedes.com) – The Bethany College Swedes Women’s Volleyball team opened the season on the road in Sioux City, S.D. to compete in the NAIA Siouxland Invitational. The Siouxland Invitational is a two-day event filled with some of the best volleyball teams in the nation. It would last from Friday, August 22, to Saturday, August 23.
GAME 1: SWEDES 1, COMETS 3
Bethany opened up the season with an early morning contest against the Mayville State University Comets. The Swedes were in control for most of the first set nabbing a 12-7 lead early on, but the Comets would settle in and outscore the Swedes 18-9 to take the first set of the season. Bethany would take set three, but would fall 3-1 to Mayville.
Jordyn Carpenter (13) led the way in kills followed by Ashlynn Gehring (11) and Auriana Nails (10). Gehring would also tally a team-high 23 assists and complete the triple-double with 11 digs. Michelle Acevedo Ortiz would rack up 28 digs throughout the contest.
GAME 2: SWEDES 0, TIGERS 3
The Swedes would take quite the break before returning to the court Friday evening to take on the Doane University Tigers. Both teams struggled with errors, but the Tigers would take this one in three sets.
Auriana Nails (7) led the way in kills for the Swedes, but Antonette Carochi would lead the Swedes’ attackers (with 10+ attacks) with a kill percentage of .385. Nails was also credited with two solo blocks. Ashlynn Gehring racked up 11 team-highs in assists (11) and digs (15).
GAME 3: SWEDES 0, MYSTICS 3
After a good night’s sleep, the Swedes were set to take on the Bismarck State University Mystics Saturday afternoon. The Swedes would compete, but fall in three sets.
Ashlynn Gehring found herself one kill short of another triple-double (9 kills, 13 assists, 10 digs). Danairis Ortiz Reyes racked up a team-high 16 assists while Michelle Acevedo Ortiz tallied 13 digs.
GAME 4: SWEDES 0, TROJANS 3
The Swedes would have a quick turnaround this time playing a back-to-back contest, this time against the Dakota State University Trojans. The Swedes would utilize their depth as eight Swedes would record at least one kill, but Bethany would fall in three sets.
The duo of Ortiz Reyes and Acevedo Ortiz would lead the Swedes in assists (12) and digs (15), respectively. Antonette Carochi tallied one solo block during the contest.
Up Next…
The Swedes will take a short break to regroup before heading to Baldwin City, Kan. to take on the Baker University Wildcats. The match is set for Friday, August 29 at 7:00 PM CT.
