Box Score MANKATO, Minn. - The Bethany Lutheran volleyball team Saturday came back from a two-set deficit against UW-Superior and forced a fifth set before eventually falling to the Yellowjackets 3-2. With the loss the Vikings conclude the season 14-15 overall and 6-8 in the UMAC while the Jackets move to 23-7 overall and 12-2 in the conference and will move on to play in the conference tournament. 

Superior would use a strong attack in the first set, taking a 19-8 lead in the frame and eventually claiming the set 25-14. Bethany would put up more of a fight in the second, as they would keep things close at 15-15, but UWS would make a late run to take it 25-21 and take the 2-0 lead. 

The Yellowjackets continued their strong play in the third, as they would gain an early 13-5 cushion and seemed to be on their way of closing out the match. Bethany would claw back in though by scoring 10 of the next 14 to bring the set within two at 17-15 before eventually evening the score at 20 just a few points later. UWS would claim a 24-22 lead to force match point, but Lexiss Trygg would leave her mark on the game propelling Bethany on a 5-1 run with three kills to take the set 27-25 and pushing the match to a fourth. 

In the fourth Bethany get out of the gates quickly, taking a 17-8 lead with four Lilly Mehrkens kills leading the way. Superior would answer and slowly cut away at the deficit, getting it three late in the set at 21-18. The Vikings would push their lead to 24-20 to force set point but UWS would battle back with four straight to even things. Back-to-back attack errors from the Yellowjackets though would give the Vikings the win and force a fifth set. 

The teams would trade points early in the fifth before UWS would take four of five to take an 8-5 lead. Bethany would answer back, eventually cutting the deficit to one point at 10-9, but Superior would hit their stride from there by scoring five of the last seven to take the set 15-11 and the match 3-2. 

Mehrkens and Trygg both had career days for the Vikings as the duo notched 21 and 18 kills, respectively to pace the attack. Abby Distad was the prime beneficiary as she posted 55 assists, while the career bests continued in the back row with Kylie Smidt's 25 digs. Distad's set assists weren't her only career high in the contest, as the freshmen also had 20 digs for a double double.