Nov. 1 – BETHANY, W. Va. – The Bethany College volleyball team celebrated senior day in style, as they defeated PAC foe Waynesburg University and non-conference opponent, Kenyon College on Saturday afternoon. The Bison went without dropping a game, as they won both contests by a 3-0 score.
In their final conference contest of the season, the Bison swept Waynesburg University, taking the match by scores of 25-13, 25-10 and 25-15. Offensively, the Green & White were led in the match by sophomore Dylana McKenzie (Hopewell, Ohio/West Muskingum) who totaled 13 kills in the win. Sophomore Dakota McKenzie (Hopwell, Ohio/West Muskingum) notched seven kills while senior Lynsie Mandt (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne) finished with six.
Bethany also used a two-setter system in the win, as junior Mackenzie Lauber (Mansfield, Ohio/Madison Mansfield) totaled 20 assists, with sophomore Allie Powell (Indianapolis, Ind. /Lawrence Central) notched 13.
Defensively, the Bison held Waynesburg to a .030 hitting percentage, totaling 49 digs in the victory. Junior Julia Mouch (Toledo, Ohio/Sylvania Southview) led the way for Bethany, notching 13 digs. Lauber finished with eight digs, while Mandt totaled seven. Three other players finished with five digs including senior Kelly Becquet (Finleyville, Pa./Ringgold), as well as sophomores Haley Santymire (Clifton, Va./Centreville) and Sadie Davenport (Newark, Ohio /Lakewood).
The victory over the Yellow Jackets moved the Bison to 16-2 in the PAC. That mark ties Thomas More College at the top of the conference leaderboard and will secure a first-round by for the Green & White in the upcoming Presidents' Athletic Conference Championship Tournament.
Following the contest with Waynesburg, the Bison completed their regular season by sweeping Kenyon College in a non-conference bout. Bethany managed the sweep by scores of 25-17, 25-13 and 25-23. In the win over the Ladies, the Bison committed just 13 errors en route to hitting .330 in the contest. Dylana McKenzie once again totaled 13 kills in the win to lead the Bison. Mandt also totaled double figures in the final regular season contest of her career, notching 11.
With her totals from today, Dylana McKenzie joins her sister Dakota as one of five players in Bison history to total 400 kills in a season. The twin sisters are the second duo in head coach Courtney Kline's tenure to accomplish the feat in the same year (Carrie Talkington (452) and Taylor Cassidy (402) each reached the mark during the 2011 campaign). The pair finish the season with 833 combined kills. Dakota ranks first in the PAC with 432, while Dylana is second in the conference with 401.
Lauber finished the contest with seven kills to go along with 36 assists. Dakota McKenzie finished the match with six kills, while sophomore Alexis Castro (Lorain, Ohio/Lorain) totaled five.
Defensively, the Bison totaled 8.0 blocks in the contest, led by Castro's three block assists. Mouch finished the match with 12 digs, while Santymire added nine. Mandt and Becquet each totaled six in the victory.
Before the contest, Mandt and Becquet were honored at the senior day ceremonies. The two will go down in the Bison record books as Bethany's all-time winningest class, having posted a career record of 117-36, including a 61-11 mark in the PAC. The duo has also helped the Bison to three-straight Eastern College Athletic Conference Regional Championships.
With the two victories, the Bison finished the regular season with a 25-12 mark, which included a 16-2 record in the PAC. The 16 conference wins is the second-most under Coach Kline, and the 25 victories mark the fifth-consecutive season that the Green & White have posted at least 24 wins.
With their finish in the PAC standings, the Bison have earned a first-round bye in the PAC Championship tournament and will await their opponent in the conference semifinals on Friday, November 7. The Bison's opponent has yet to be determined.
