Ottawa, Kan. – The Bethany College volleyball team showed flashes of strong play but ultimately dropped a 3–0 decision (23–25, 15–25, 20–25) on the road to Ottawa University on Saturday afternoon inside Wilson Field House.
The Swedes opened the match with energy, trading points throughout a competitive first set. Bethany tallied five kills and forced multiple errors by the Braves to stay within striking distance before Ottawa closed out the frame, 25–23. Ottawa’s offense found its rhythm in the next two sets, while the Swedes continued to battle defensively and at the service line. Alivia Cheatham led Bethany’s offense with 9 kills on an efficient .276 hitting percentage, while Blanca Ariciniega Palma added 5 kills. Setter Ashlynn Gehring was a major contributor across the board, finishing with a team-high of 10 assists and 14 digs to go with 4 kills.
Defensively, libero Michelle Acevedo Ortiz anchored the back row with 12 digs, helping the Swedes extend rallies throughout the match. Bethany also recorded six service aces as a team, including two each from Jordyn Carpenter and Danairis Ortiz Reyes. Despite the loss, Bethany’s best offensive set came in the third, where the Swedes hit .297 and produced 14 kills on just three errors, demonstrating resilience down the stretch.
Up next, the Swedes are on the road at Kansas Wesleyan University taking on the Coyotes, Wednesday, October 22nd starting at 5pm for Devo and 7pm for varsity.
