MANKATO, Minn. - The Bethany Lutheran volleyball team Friday traveled to Minnesota Morris and fell to the Cougars by a margin of 3-1. With the loss the Vikings fall to 7-11 overall and 0-4 in the UMAC, while Morris moves to 7-8 overall and 3-1 in the conference.
The Vikings would take a 9-5 lead early in set one after a 4-0 run including a pair of
Megan Wegner service aces. The Cougars would claw back and cut the deficit to three at 16-13 before they would score five straight to take a two-point lead. Both teams would then push to an even score of 20-20 before the Cougars would score five of the next seven to take a 25-22 set one win.
After Bethany would build their way out to a 21-18 lead in the second set, the teams would trade points until the Vikings led 23-20. UMM would score three in a row to even things at 23 before a Bethany kill gave them set point. Morris would score two in a row to force a set point of their own, before the Vikings would answer with back-to-back points to re-take the lead. The Cougars would then get a pair of kills to force set point before a Viking error would give them the 28-26 win.
Bethany would hold another lead at 14-10 midway through the third frame before UMM scored four of the next five to make the score 15-14. The Vikings would answer with five straight points to take a six point lead, and although the Cougars would cut it to one late, the Vikings would tally three straight to claim the frame 25-21.
It was Morris who would come out strong in set four as they would claim the early 10-5 lead. Bethany would climb their way back and eventually score five of six to claim a 17-16 lead. Morris would bounce back by going on a 6-1 run as they would claim the momentum and hold a 23-19 lead. The Vikings would score four of the next five to make 24-23 in favor of Morris, but the Cougars would get a kill to end the match.
Maddie Meyer led the Vikings with 13 kills on just 21 attacks for a .524 hitting percentage, while
Lilly Mehrkens had nine kills.
Abby Distad led Bethany with 30 assists in the match while four Vikings had double digit digs including Mehrkens, Distad,
Maddi Wendland, and Wegner.
Bethany will be back in action tomorrow when they travel to Crown for a 1 p.m. contest.
