NORTHFIELD, Minn. - The Bethany volleyball team erased a two-set deficit at Carleton on Wednesday night, winning the next two to force a deciding fifth set, but lost the final frame 15-13. The Vikings snap a three-game win streak and move to 3-5 overall. 

Bethany held an early lead in the first set at 5-2, but the Knights came back with a 10-2 run to take the lead for good and went on to win 25-18. The second set went back and forth early with nine ties and three lead changes, but the last change went in favor of Carleton as it went on an 8-2 run for an 18-12 lead and cruised to a 25-14 victory. 

Once again, the third set traded blows early on with nine ties and four lead changes, but this time it was the Vikings gaining the final lead with a 7-1 run for an 18-12 advantage. The visitors went on to win 25-22. 

Carleton held the upper hand early in the fourth frame with a 7-4 advantage until the Vikings rattled off five straight for the lead. The home team went back ahead 11-10, but the Vikings went on another 5-0 scoring run. Carleton bounced back and went ahead at 19-18 before Bethany followed with three straight points for a 21-19 lead. The Vikings held set-point at 24-22, but the Knights won three straight to return the favor and held set point at 25-24. In the true back and forth nature of the game, the Vikings responded with three straight to close out the set 27-25 on back to back aces from Maddie Meyer. 

Again, the two squads traded punches in the fifth with six ties and five lead changes, resulting in a 12-12 score. The Knights then closed out the match with an ace and two kills. 

Bethany improved its attack as the match went on, hitting .133 in the first and -.034 in the second, to .139 in the third, .158 in the fourth, and .261 in the fifth for a total of .128. Carleton hit at a .199 rate. 

Lilly Mehrkens led the offense with 17 kills. Maddie Meyer added 11 with a team-high .423 attack percentage, while Sydney Carlson chipped in 10 kills. Abby Distad distributed 42 assists with eight digs. Kylie Smidt led the defense with 12 digs while Avery Carlson added 11. 

Bethany competes in the Macalester Invite on Saturday, facing Caltech at 11 a.m. and Simpson at 1 p.m.
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