WINFIELD, Kan. — Southwestern College showed grit in stretches but could not overcome Bethel College's high-powered offense, falling in straight sets 25-13, 25-23, 25-14 on Saturday morning inside Stewart Fieldhouse.

The loss dropped the Moundbuilders to 7-11 overall and 1-3 in KCAC play, while the Threshers improved to 13-8, 3-1. 

Southwestern struggled to find rhythm offensively in the opening frame, committing nine attack errors. Bethel's Cameron Offerle and Alayna Vines combined for early kills to spark a 7-1 run, forcing a Builder timeout. Southwestern pulled within 10-19 on a pair of kills from Ashlyn Tag and Haleigh Weber, but the Threshers closed strong to win 25-13.

The second set proved to be the highlight for Southwestern. The Builders jumped out to a 3-0 lead behind strong serving from Natalie Blaufuss and a kill by Autumn Bennett. Bethel rallied to grab a 17-13 advantage, but Southwestern refused to back down.

Kills from Tag and Macey Collier, followed by a service ace from Tag, brought the crowd to life as the Builders tied the set 19-19. Southwestern even cut the deficit to 22-23 on a Bethel error, but the Threshers sealed the frame with a kill from Darla Crow, taking it 25-23.

Hoping to force a fourth set, Southwestern stayed close early behind kills from Bennett and Collier. However, Bethel's balanced attack proved too much. Offerle and Landree Merriman sparked a decisive run midway through the set, and despite kills from Dippre and Bennett, the Builders could not recover, falling 25-14.

Bennett led Southwestern with seven kills, while Collier added four on a team-best .333 hitting percentage. Dippre and Tag chipped in four kills each. Blaufuss paced the offense with 11 assists, and Avery Riedel anchored the defense with six digs.

Southwestern finished with 22 kills on 92 swings for a .011 hitting percentage. The Builders' second set was their best offensively, hitting .182 with nine kills.

Meanwhile, Bethel hit an impressive .373 as a team, led by Offerle's 13 kills and Crow's eight on a .538 clip. Setter Dalaina Schutte controlled the floor with 34 assists.

Southwestern returns to action next week as it continues conference play, aiming to build on the competitive stretches shown against Bethel.