Oct. 10 - ELMHURST, Ill. - The Bethany College volleyball team (17-6, 9-1 PAC) split a pair of games on the first day of the Elmhurst College invitational. The Bison took a 3-1 victory over St. Olaf before droping a five-set match to Simpson College.
In game one, the Bison captured a 3-1 victory over St. Olaf College. Bethany took game one by a score of 25-16. After dropping game two by a 25-22 score, Bethany came back to capture game three (25-22) and game four (25-21) to notch the match victory, 3-1.
In the win, sophomore Dylana McKenzie (Hopewell, Ohio/West Muskingum) led the offense, totaling 15 kills. Dakota McKenzie (Hopewell, Ohio/West Muskingum) also put in a solid effort, finishing the match with 13 kills. Lynsie Mandt (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne) notched her team-leading fifth double double of the season, totaling 11 kills and 10 digs in the win. Mandt has now posted three double-doubles in her last six contests.
Defensively, Julia Mouch (Toledo, Ohio/Sylvania Southview) led the way with 24 digs. Haley Santymire (Clifton, Va./Centreville) totaled eight digs in the game one victory while also leading the team in aces with three.
In game number two, Bethany found itself in a back-and-forth affair with Simpson College, ultimately falling by a 3-2 score. Simpson took game one by a 25-19 score before Bethany battled back with a 25-16 win in game two. The teams would would then trade the next two games with Simpson capturing game three (25-17) and the Green & White taking game four (25-22) to tie the game at 2-2. Simpson would then hand the Bison the 3-2 defeat by taking game five by a 15-12 score.
In the second match, Dakota McKenzie led Bison with 17 kills while Dylana McKenzie notched 15 and Mandt, 14, to pace the Bison. Alexis Castro (Lorain, Ohio/Lorain) totaled nine kills while Lauber finished the match with 50 assists. As a team, Bethany posted a .357 hitting percentage, which is the highest percent by the Green & White in a loss this season.
Defensively, Bethany totaled 10 blocks, paced by one solo block and three block assists by Castro. Mouch once again led the Bison in digs, finishing the five-set match with 20.
Bethany will be back in action on the second day of the Elmhurst Invitational on Saturday. The Bison will match up against the hose Blue Jays in game one at 10 a.m. before taking on St. Mary's at noon.
