BETHANY, W.Va. - The Bethany College men's volleyball team opened the 2026 season as they fell to Bridgewater (Va.) College by a final score of 3-1 in a non-conference match on Joe Kurey Memorial Court inside Hummel Fieldhouse.

Bethany (0-1) had the early morning slate as the Bison made their season debut against a first-year program in Bridgewater (1-1). The Eagles were able to take the first two sets by scores of 25-16 and 25-19, but the Green and White went on a 7-1 run in the middle of Set 3 to give them their first set victory of the season. Bridgewater, however, would fight right back and secure a victory in the fourth set for their first program win.

Bethany Leaders

• Sophomore Academic All-PAC libero Cole Thomas (Lindside, W.Va./James Monroe) tallied a team-high 11 digs with three assists
• Sophomore right-side hitter Baylen Loosier (Pittsburgh, Pa./Pittsburgh Science & Tech Academy) tied a team-high seven kills on 17 attacks while also adding seven digs
• Sophomore All-PAC outside hitter Riley Burdett (Jefferson Hills, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) helped lead the Bison offense with seven kills
• Sophomore Academic All-PAC setter Logan Mills (Barrie North, Ontario/Eastview Secondary School) and freshman setter Zachary Kay (Little Egg Harbor, N.J./Pinelands) led the team with 15 assists and 12 assists, respectively
• Freshman outside hitter Braeden Reedus (Blacklick, Ohio/Reynoldsburg) and sophomore middle blocker Emilio Feliciano (El Mirage, Ariz./Dysart) each finished with five kills in their first match in the Green and White
• Freshman outside hitter Tyshon Francis (McKeesport, Pa.) notched four kills in his collegiate debut while middle blocker Cyrus Chappell (Junction City, Ore), right-side hitter Julian Huerta (Bolingbrook, Ill.), outside hitter Adrian Taylor (Newark, Ohio), and defensive specialist Troy Brown (Pittsburgh, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) all appeared in their first match for the Bison
• Feliciano also finished with a team-best five blocks and two aces

Bridgewater Leaders

• Senior outside hitter Jeffrey Provost posted a double-double with game-highs of 15 digs and 14 kills
• Freshman outside hitter Jovan Lapera added 11 kills for the Eagles
• Freshman setter Joshua Krogstad assisted 19 times to lead the team

The Bison are back in action on Tuesday, January 20 as they host a non-conference match against Washington & Jefferson (Pa.) College at 6 p.m. on Joe Kurey Memorial Court inside Hummel Fieldhouse.