POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. — No. 8 seeded Sterling College edged No. 5 seeded Bethel University in a five-set match, 3-2, with set scores of 22-25, 25-20, 14-25, 25-23, and 15-10 at Keeter Gym on Thursday, Dec. 4. This match marked the final game of pool play at the NCCAA Championship and with the win the Lady Warriors advanced to the final four. Sterling College recorded 53 kills and achieved a .235 hitting percentage. Bethel University posted 75 kills but was hampered by 34 errors, contributing to a .205 hitting percentage.
The Lady Warriors began the first set with momentum, taking an early 2-0 lead with a kill from Chloe Schmidt and an attack error by the Pilots. Kaira Rodriguez and Aliya McClanahan added key kills to extend the advantage to 4-1. Bethel responded to tie the score several times, but Sterling managed to regain the lead at 6-5 with a kill by Keala Wilson.
As the set progressed, Sterling continued to capitalize on Bethel’s attack errors, pulling ahead 9-6. However, Bethel rallied back, eventually overtaking Sterling at 12-11. Sterling regained control with a service ace from Grace Battershell, moving to a narrow 17-16 lead.
In the closing stages, Kodie Herd contributed two consecutive kills, putting Sterling ahead 21-19. Nonetheless, the Pilots capitalized on a series of errors from Sterling, reclaiming the lead and ultimately closing the set with a 25-22 victory.
Sterling began the second set with a focus on regaining momentum. After falling behind, they capitalized on multiple errors from Bethel, including a service error and attack errors, to keep the score within reach. Key contributions came from Wilson and Schmidt, who added crucial kills to maintain pressure.
Midway through the set, the Lady Warrior’s defense, led by a block from McClanahan and Abigail “Abi” Howard, helped narrow the gap to 15-14. Wilson continued to impact the game with her offensive skills, contributing to an equalizer at 16-16.
In the closing stretch, Sterling pulled ahead with a series of successful plays, including a kill by Maddie Lundeen and a service ace by Schmidt. Lundeen and McClanahan’s combined block extended the lead, and a final kill by Wilson secured a 25-20 set victory for Sterling.
The Lady Warriors faced a challenging third set against the Pilots. Following an early exchange of points, Bethel began to pull away with a series of successful plays, including a key service ace from that extended their lead to 7-2. Despite efforts by Sterling, highlighted by Lundeen and Schmidt securing crucial kills, Bethel maintained their advantage.
Sterling responded with defensive stops, including blocks from McClanahan and Lundeen, temporarily halting Bethel’s momentum. However, the Pilots capitalized on errors and continued their offensive push, with Taylor Delp and Ainsley Tacke contributing effectively to extend the home team’s lead.
As the set wound down, Sterling managed to narrow the gap slightly with contributions from Howard and Battershell. Nevertheless, Bethel closed out the set with a decisive service ace, securing a 25-14 win.
The Lady Warriors would not go away quietly as they opened the fourth set with a key block by McClanahan and Howard, tying the score early at 2-2. As the set progressed, Sterling regained momentum with consecutive points, including a kill by Herd and a block by Schmidt and Howard, giving them a narrow edge.
Sterling continued to pressure Bethel, with Wilson contributing crucial kills to maintain their slim lead. Despite the Pilot’s attempts to rally, the Lady Warriors capitalized on errors, and a late kill by Schmidt pushed them to the brink of victory. The set concluded with Sterling securing a 25-23 win, closing the match with an attack error from Bethel’s Delp.
Sterling College began the fifth set with an early kill by Lundeen, assisted by Wilson, leveling the score at 1-1. A crucial block by McClanahan and Lundeen provided another point, setting the momentum in favor of the Lady Warriors. Despite a response from Pilots, Sterling maintained their edge with a series of kills, including ones by McClanahan and Wilson, creating a 4-2 lead.
The momentum continued as Herd added to the lead with a kill, assisted by Wilson. A strategic timeout by Bethel at 8-5 could not halt Sterling’s progress as Schmidt and McClanahan capitalized with more scoring plays, stretching the gap to 10-6. Sterling’s defense and coordination were evident, with the Pilots unable to mount a comeback despite their efforts.
Sterling secured the set with McClanahan’s decisive kill, closing the contest at 15-10. This performance underscored Sterling’s resilience and effective teamwork, sealing the victory in the final set.
McClanahan led Sterling College with 14 kills on 33 attempts, achieving a hitting percentage of .364, and contributed significantly on defense with nine total blocks. Wilson posted a well-rounded performance, recording 13 kills, 21 assists and 14 digs across five sets. Schmidt added 11 kills and secured one service ace while maintaining a hitting percentage of .286. Taylor “Dru” Lindsey, serving as libero, collected a team-high 15 digs and added one service ace to her defensive contributions while Battershell also led the team with 26 assists and a services ace.
With the win, the Lady Warriors (19-14) advance to the semi-final round of the NCCAA Championship where they will face the No. 2 seeded Grace College (18-16). The game will take place on Friday, Dec. 5 at 6 p.m. in Point Lookout, Mo.
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.
