MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The Bethany Lutheran volleyball team needed a win over North Central Saturday to keep their UMAC playoff hopes alive and they did so, overcoming a 1-0 deficit early to come back and take the match 3-1. With the win the Vikings improve to 13-14 on the season and 5-7 in the conference while the Rams fall to 15-7 overall and 6-5 in the UMAC.

It was a slow start for Bethany, as they would struggle to get their attack going in the frame. They would hit just .065 in the set and saw NCU slowly build their way out to a 20-10 lead. The Vikings would cut the deficit to five late but the Rams would close out the set 25-19. 

North Central would hold a one point lead in the second set at 8-7 before the Vikings would turn the tide of the match. They would mount an 11-3 run to take control of things at 18-11. They would cruise from there, as they would claim it 25-15 to even the match at 1-1. Maddie Meyer and Lilly Lilly Mehrkens each had a great run down the stretch of the second, as they each tallied three kills with Meyer also tallying two services aces in the Vikings 10 final points of the frame. 

The third would play the most back-and-forth with neither team gaining much of an advantage in the first half of the set. With the score tied 16-16, three straight from Bethany would give them the late edge. Both teams would then trade a few points before two straight kills from Mehrkens put the Vikings up 22-18. NCU would get a kill back of their own but three more from Bethany would secure the 25-19 set win.

The Vikings tried to leave no doubt in the fourth set to put the match away. They would get out to a 10-2 lead and eventually extend it to 17-6 with three more kills each from Meyer and Mehrkens helping pace the attack. NCU would fight back late to cut the deficit to six at 22-16 but the Vikings would close the door from there and take it 25-17. 

Mehrkens and Meyer each had big days for Bethany, with the duo tallying 17 and 13 kills, respectively. Abby Distad helped the Vikings out as she posted her second straight double double with 32 set assists to go along with 10 digs, while Maddi Wendland led the back row with 15 digs. 

The Vikings will be back in action next Friday and Saturday when they conclude their regular season against Northland and UW-Superior.