Salina, Kan. – In a heated rivalry matchup, the Bethany College volleyball team showed grit and determination but ultimately fell to Kansas Wesleyan in straight sets (24–26, 17-25, 20–25) Wednesday night inside Mabee Arena.
The long-standing rivalry between the Swedes and Coyotes brought an intense atmosphere to the court, with both teams trading momentum early. Bethany opened strong, going point-for-point in the first set that featured seven lead changes and nine ties before KWU narrowly edged out the win.
Antonette Carochi led the way at the net with seven kills, hitting at .294, and multiple key blocks, setting the tone for Bethany’s front-row defense. Freshman Alivia Cheatham added 5 kills of her own along with 5 kills by Chloe Linville, while Ashlynn Gehring contributed 8 kills, 13 assists and 13 digs in another all-around solid performance.
Defensively, Michelle Acevedo Ortiz anchored the back row with a match-high 26 digs, while Carochi and Chloe Linville combined to help the Swedes record five total team blocks. Bethany’s blocking presence slowed down Kansas Wesleyan’s attack throughout the night, especially in extended rallies that fired up both benches.
Despite the loss, Bethany continued to show improvement offensively, raising its hitting percentage each set and demonstrating resilience in one of the conference’s most competitive rivalries.
Up next, the Swedes are hosting the Oklahoma Wesleyan University Eagles Saturday, October 25th starting at 12pm for Devo and 2pm for varsity in Hahn Gymnasium.
