MANKATO, Minn. - Bethany volleyball suffered a 3-0 loss to UW-Superior on Saturday afternoon, falling to 13-9 overall and 5-3 in the UMAC.

Bethany started the match strong with a 4-1 lead thanks to alternating kills from Lilly Mehrkens and Riley Sammon. The Yellowjackets climbed back to gain a 9-8 advantage but a 9-2 run gave the lead back to the Vikings at 17-11. Trailing by four, the visitors rattled of five straight points to go up 21-20. Kills from Mehrkens and Sammon gave the Vikings set point at 24-22, but Superior was able to fend it off with a 5-1 run to win the frame 27-25. 

The Vikings again started the second set strong with a 5-2 lead but seven straight points by the Yellowjackets gave them the lead for good in a 25-17 decision. Bethany held early leads of 4-3 and 8-5 in the third, but once again the visitors had a long string of scoring on an 8-1 run and never looked back in a 25-20 win. 

Bethany hit .195 on the attack while Superior converted at a .317 clip. Mehrkens led the offense with 12 kills. Abby Distad had 39 assists. Kylie Smidt led the defense with 19 digs. 

The Vikings travel to Crown on Wednesday night. 
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