Kansas Wesleyan Women's Volleyball dropped a four-set decision to the Bethel Threshers on Wednesday night inside Mabee Arena – 21-25, 25-16, 23-25, 19-25.
With one match remaining in the regular season, the Coyotes are in a 3-way tie for fifth place in the KCAC standings at 7-5 with Saint Mary and Ottawa. Saturday's results will be key in determining the final standings in the conference. KWU hosts Friends, Saint Mary plays Tabor, and Ottawa takes on Bethel.
Bethel jumped out to a 7-3 lead in the first set and led 8-4 when the Coyotes caught fire, scoring eight straight points to take a 12-8 lead. The Coyotes led 13-10 when Bethel came back scoring five straight to take a 15-13 lead. The teams traded points back and forth and the Coyotes were within two at 21-19 when Bethel scored three straight to take a 24-19 lead. Two points for the Coyotes made it 24-21, but Bethel would win the set.
Wesleyan led 3-0 to start the second set, but Bethel came right back with four straight to lead 4-3. KWU led 15-11 when the Coyotes scored seven straight to take a 22-11 lead. Bethel scored four of the next five to make it 23-15. The Coyotes got a point to set up set point, but Bethel scored one before a
Kylee Harris kill ended it 25-16 in favor of the Coyotes.
The Threshers led early in the third set but the Coyotes used four straight points to take a 7-6 lead. After a Bethel point the Coyotes scored five straight to take a 12-7 lead. Wesleyan led 15-9 but Bethel made a run getting within three at 16-13. It was 18-13 Coyotes when Bethel got within a point at 18-17. KWU led 22-19 on a kill by
Rylee Serpan, but four straight from Bethel gave the Threshers a 23-22 lead. A kill from
Gianna Adriaanse tied it, but Bethel scored the last two points to win the set 25-23.
Bethel led 6-2 to start the fourth, but the Coyotes battled back to take a 10-9 lead. It was tied 15-all when Bethel scored three straight to take a 18-15 lead. The Coyotes got no closer than two the rest of the way as Bethel opened up a 23-18 lead before closing out the match.
Serpan had 13 kills to lead the Coyotes while Adriaanse had 12.
Sara Bebout had 20 assists and
Blair Pennington had 16.
Tristyn Hedman had 31 digs.
Bethel was led by Cameron Offerle with 27 kills.
The Coyotes host Friends in the regular season finale at 6 p.m. at Mabee Arena.
