Oct. 22 - CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky. - The Bethany College volleyball team (20-11, 13-2 PAC) created a log jam at the top of the Presidents' Athletic Conference standings as the Green & White defeated Thomas More College, 3-1, on Wednesday evening.
The Bison captured game one by a score of 25-18. Coming out of the gates strong, the Bison jumped out to a quick 11-4 lead in the opening game. The run was fueled by three Dylana McKenzie (Hopewell, Ohio/West Muskingum) kills and back-to-back service aces from senior Lynsie Mandt (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne). The Bison would extend their lead to ten points (21-11) on another kill by McKenzie, before going on for the 25-18 win. McKenzie was a force in the opening set, scoring eight of the team's points.
Game two started in the Saints' favor, as Thomas More ran out to a 6-2 lead. The Bison would fight back, going on a five point run to retake the lead, 7-6, on McKenzie's ninth kill of the game. That, however, would be Bethany's only lead of game two. The Saints would extend the advantage to as many as four (16-12) on a service ace by Libbi Giuliano, before going on for the 25-21 game two win.
Game three was the most highly contested of the night, as the set saw 17 ties and nine lead changes. Neither team had more than a one-point advantage until Bethany opened a two-point cushion (11-9) on a kill by Arielle Sanders (Maple Heights, Ohio/Maple Heights). The Saints would retake the advantage, 13-11, before the teams would seesaw three more times. With the set tied at 22, the Bison would finish the game off with a 3-1 run. Sophomore Dakota McKenzie (Hopewell, Ohio/West Muskingum) notched points 24 and 25 in the set, and the Bison took a 2-1 advantage in the match.
In the fourth game, the Bison once again dominated, opening a 19-9 lead. Five different players notched at least one kill in the run, led by five from Dylana McKenzie. Mackenzie Lauber (Mansfield, Ohio/Madison Mansfield) posted two aces in the run as well, as the Green & White opened the comfortable, 10-point lead. Thomas More would get within six points before the Bison finished off the 3-1 win on a kill by Dakota McKenzie.
In the victory, the Bison were led offensively by the McKenzie twins, as well as Mandt. Dylana and Dakota McKenzie, who rank first and second on the roster in total kills, combined for 38 kills in the contest, each finishing with 19. Mandt finished with a solid, all-around performance, totaling eight kills while committing zero errors. She also added 13 digs. Sanders finished with seven kills while Alexis Castro (Lorain, Ohio/Lorain) posted six. Lauber notched 49 assists and three kills while also leading the team with three service aces.
Defensively, The Bison were led by libero Julia Mouch (Toledo, Ohio/Sylvania Southview), who posted her 11th 20+ dig performance of the season by finishing the contest with 25. Mandt totaled 13, as did sophomore Haley Santymire (Clifton, Va./Ringgold).
With the victory, the Bison moved into a tie with Geneva College at the top of the Presidents' Athletic Conference standings, now sitting at 13-2. The Saints are just a half game behind the Bison and Golden Tornadoes, dropping to 12-2 with the loss. More interesting, hoever, is that each team holds a 1-1 record with the two other squads.
The Bison will return to action on Saturday, October 25 when they travel to Christopher Newport for a tri-match with the host Captains and Marymount University. The following week, Bethany will complete their conference schedule at home against St. Vincent (Oct. 28), on the road at Westminster (Oct. 30) and back home against Waynesburg (Nov. 1).
