MANKATO, Minn. - The streak is over. Bethany volleyball beat UM-Morris in four sets Friday night at home, snapping a 29-match losing streak to the Cougars, dating back to the 2009 season. The Vikings improve to 10-5 overall and 2-0 in the UMAC, while extending their winning streak to seven. 

After trading the lead three times early in the first set, Bethany went on a 6-1 run to gain a 9-5 advantage and never relinquished the advantage. The Cougars came within one point three more times, but three kills from Maddie Meyer and a set-clinching kill from Lilly Mehrkens closed it out 25-20. 

The Vikings used the momentum to jump out to a 7-1 lead in the second and never looked back. The home squad led by as much as 10 points four times before going up 2-0 in the match with a 25-18 win. 

Morris did not go quietly, breaking an 8-8 tie with a 5-1 run before the Vikings responded with a 7-2 run to regain the lead at 16-15. The Cougars answered by taking the lead back at 17-16 and never trailed the rest of the way, securing a 25-21 win.

The fourth set featured five lead changes and nine ties, culminating in a see-saw ending with alternating points for the final six rallies. Mehrkens gave the Vikings set point with a kill at 24-22, the Cougars answered with a kill, but Lexiss Trygg put a stamp on the victory with the match-clinching kill at 25-23. 

Mehrkens led the offense with 22 kills while eclipsing 500 for her career. Abby Distad posted 43 assists, while Kylie Smidt was clutch on the back line with 23 digs. 

Bethany continues its home stand tomorrow afternoon against Crown at 1 p.m. 
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