WASHINGTON, Pa. - The Bethany College volleyball team split a pair of five-set matches, falling to Presidents' Athletic Conference foe Washington & Jefferson before beating Penn State – Altoona Saturday at the Washington & Jefferson tri-match.
MATCH 1: W&J 3, BETHANY 2 (18-25, 23-25, 27-25, 25-22, 15-12)
Bethany, leading two sets to none, was on the verge of a three-set sweep – leading 24-20 in the third set. However, the Presidents scored seven of the last eight points to secure the third set, and then claimed the next two for the win.
Junior Adriana Gilliam finished with a team-high 15 kills on 62 attempts with 10 errors. She added 14 digs. Junior Averie Braymer finished with 11 kills on 27 attempts with five errors.
MATCH 2: BETHANY 3, PSU-ALTOONA 2 (23-25, 30-28, 23-25, 25-23, 15-11)
In a closely contested match, with the first four sets being decided by just two points, Bethany claimed the deciding fifth set to earn a split on the day.
Braymer led the Bison with 14 kills on 34 attempts and three errors, while Gilliam, on a career-high 67 attempts, finished with 13 kills and five errors. Another double-double for Gallagher with 42 assists and 24 digs, and Taylor recorded a career-high 49 digs.
Freshman Ashton Thomas was a force at the net with two solo blocks and four block assists. Braymer added two solo blocks and two block assists.
Bethany (7-8 overall) will play two matches Tuesday, playing host Geneva at 4 p.m. and then plays LaRoche at 6 p.m.
