LATROBE, PA - The Bethany College women's volleyball team opened with 2024 season by splitting a pair of matches in the Saint Vincent Invitational Friday. 

The Bison fell in a tightly-contested five-set match (25-23, 25-27,16-25, 25-23, 15-17) to the Rochester Institute of Technology, and then rebounded with a resounding straight-set win (25-23, 25-18, 25-15) over Pitt.-Greensburg.

MATCH 1: RIT 3, BETHANY 2

In four of the five sets, the Bison typically would have scored the required amount of points - however, two of their set losses came in extended scoring. 

Bethany overcame a slow start in the opening set as RIT scored seven of the first nine points, and led by as much as 17-9, before the Bison stormed back in the opening set. The second set was nip and tuck until the Tigers built a 20-15 lead. Bethany took the 23-21 lead, but RIT tallied six of the final eight points. 

A third set aberration in which RIT won, 25-16, before Bethany responded with a narrow win in the fourth set and a narrow lost in the fifth 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Adriana Gilliam and Averie Braymer combined for 25 of the team's 38 kills. Gilliam completed the double-double with 18 digs. 

• Five different players - Anna Taylor (21), Gilliam (18), Avery Askew (16), Andie Clark (13), and Talia Gallagher (11) - all record double-digit digs. 

• Gallagher and Taylor each had five service aces as the team finished with 13 aces.

• Gallagher led the team with 22 assists. 

MATCH 2: Bethany 3, Pitt.-Greensburg 0

Bethany notched its first win of the season, beating Pitt-Greensburg in straight-sets. 

The first set was closely contested, before Bethany took control in the second and third sets. The Bison briefly trailed by a single point in the sets, but was never really challenged. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Gallagher recorded her second double-double with 12 kills and 15 digs. 

• JaSona Belyeu added 14 digs and Clark recorded 11 digs. 

• For the second straight match, Gallagher finished with at least 20 assists - dishing out 21 assists. She added five service aces. 

Bethany (1-1) returns to action Saturday with a 10 a.m. match with Fransiscan followed by a 2 p.m. match with Hollins.