Bethel College defeated Sterling College 3-1 (26-24, 21-25, 25-12, 25-22) on Wednesday, Oct. 1 in the Gleason Center. Bethel capitalized on a dominant third set to gain momentum, outpacing Sterling in total kills with 60 to Sterling’s 48. Despite Sterling’s strong defensive effort, totaling 15 blocks, Bethel secured the match with consistent offensive pressure.
The Lady Warriors opened the first set with a balanced attack, gaining an early advantage through solid defensive blocks by Keala Wilson and Aliya McClanahan, contributing to a 9-6 lead. Kaira Rodriguez and Maddie Lundeen each recorded key kills, while Chole Schmidt and Kodie Herd added to the scoreline, keeping Sterling ahead 19-16. As the set progressed, Sterling maintained momentum with contributions from McClanahan and Lundeen, extending their lead to 23-20. However, Bethel capitalized on a late surge, and despite a timeout by Sterling, Bethel managed to close the gap and secure the set with a narrow 26-24 victory.
Sterling began the second set with a strong defensive effort, highlighted by Schmidt’s block on Alayna Vines’ attack, cutting the early deficit to 5-4. A service ace by Sterling then allowed them to draw even at 5-5. As the set progressed, Lundeen contributed with a kill to give Sterling a narrow lead at 6-5, and Wilson’s kill extended it to 8-7. The momentum shifted in Sterling’s favor midway through the set when they capitalized on a series of Bethel attack errors, pushing the score to 11-8. McClanahan’s consistent performance was notable, as her kills helped maintain the lead, bringing the score to 16-12. Sterling maintained their advantage late into the set. Key contributions from Wilson and McClanahan, along with Bethel service errors, allowed Sterling to reach a 24-21 edge. The set concluded with a decisive block by Schmidt and Lundeen, sealing the set at 25-21 for Sterling.
Sterling faced a challenging third set against Bethel. The set commenced with Sterling taking an early lead from a kill by Wilson, assisted by Grace Battershell. However, Bethel quickly built momentum with a series of successful plays, including multiple kills from Cameron Offerle, extending their lead significantly. A timeout by Sterling aimed to disrupt Bethel’s rhythm but was followed by continued scoring from the visitors. Sterling fought back with contributions from Schmidt and McClanahan, but Bethel maintained control with consistent offense and capitalized on Sterling’s errors. Despite efforts from Herd and a service ace by Wilson, Bethel closed out the set with a decisive 25-12 victory, securing the set with a substantial lead.
Starting the fourth set, Sterling faced a challenging situation with an early lead by Bethel at 3-0. Sterling responded with a defensive block by Schmidt and Wilson to put their first point on the board, making it 3-1. Despite this, Bethel’s offense kept the momentum, extending their lead to 7-1 with effective plays from Offerle and Dalaina Schutte. Sterling began to find their rhythm with Wilson and McClanahan contributing kills to bring the score closer at 9-8. Bethel regained control, reaching 12-8, but Sterling’s defense, led by blocks from Schmidt and Herd, helped them close the gap to 16-14. Bethel maintained their edge, with Offerle continuing to add to their score, pushing it to 19-15. In a tense finish, Sterling rallied back to tie the score at 19-19 with strong defensive efforts, including blocks from Abigail “Abi” Howard and McClanahan. However, Bethel pulled ahead again, reaching 23-21. Despite another push from Sterling to bring the score within one point at 23-22, Bethel secured the set with a final score of 25-22, concluding the match with a victory.
Wilson led Sterling with eight kills, 27 assists and 16 digs, contributing significantly to the team’s overall performance. McClanahan was effective at the net, recording 13 kills and nine total blocks. Schmidt added 10 kills and six total blocks, showcasing her defensive capabilities. Battershell supported the team’s efforts with 13 assists and matched the defensive output with 11 digs.
With the loss, the Lady Warriors move to 9-7 on the season, 0-4 in conference play. Sterling will look to get their first conference win of the season against Avila University (5-14, 0-3) in Kansas City, Mo. on Friday, Oct. 3 at 3 p.m.
Be sure to check for news and updates on Sterling Warrior Athletics on Facebook (/SCWarriors), Twitter (@SterlingCSports), and Instagram (sterlingcsports), as well as the hashtag #SwordsUp. Watch the Warriors’ live home events on the Sterling College Sports Network.
