MANKATO, Minn. – Maddi Wendland became the sixth player in program history to achieve 1,000 career digs on Friday night as the Bethany Lutheran volleyball team dropped a match 3-0 to UW-Superior. With the loss the Vikings fall to 5-12 overall and 2-4 in the UMAC while the Yellowjackets move to 11-7 overall and 4-2 in the conference.



The attack of UW-Superior showed up early in this one, as the even distribution of attacks propelled them to a 10-4 lead to open the match. Bethany would battle back into it after their attack got going, cutting the deficit to 16-15 but UWS responded with five straight to go up 21-15. That cushion was enough as the Yellowjackets would eventually claim the first set 25-18.

Set number two proved to be the most back-and-forth of the three, as the two teams traded leads in the early going. Both squads would make small runs to play to an even 7-7 tally before UWS scored eight of the next 10 points to gain a 15-9 advantage. Bethany would answer in a big way, going on a 6-1 run to cut the deficit to one at 16-15. After the Yellowjackets pushed back and regained a 21-18 edge, BLC would once again draw even at 21 apiece before eventually gaining a 23-22 advantage after a Paloma Garcia De Fuentes service ace. 23 points was as far as Bethany would go though, as UWS rattled off three straight points to end the set and take a 2-0 match lead.

In the final set, Superior would get out to a 9-4 lead early before a pair of service aces from Esther Peeters helped the Vikings on a 5-1 run to cut the lead to 10-9. The attack of UWS would catch fire though, as they would respond with an 8-1 run including six kills to go up 18-10. From there on out, the Vikings couldn't fight there way back in as the visitors claimed the third set 25-13 and the match 3-0.

Wendland had 10 total digs in the milestone match, while Callista Weber matched her effort with 10 of her own. On the attack Lexiss Trygg led Bethany with eight kills on just 20 attacks, while Kate Maag and Ella Blazina each added six. Garcia de Fuentes was the distributor for the offense as she dished out 25 assists in the match.

Bethany will be back at it tomorrow when they host Northland for a 1 p.m. contest.