NORTH NEWTON, Kan. — Southwestern College struggled to find an offensive rhythm Saturday afternoon, falling to Bethel College in three sets at Thresher Gymnasium.
Bethel took the match 25-16, 25-10, 25-12. The Builders finished with 15 kills, 15 assists, 39 digs and two total blocks. Bethel countered with 46 kills, eight service aces and seven blocks while hitting .278 for the match.
Southwestern faced an early deficit in the opening set as Bethel jumped ahead 8-1. The Builders began working their way back behind kills from Mikki Johnson, Kailey Lesquier, Kamryn Deffebaugh, Haleigh Weber and Ayden Joely-Petroff.
Trailing 19-12, Southwestern put together its best run of the opening frame. Joely-Petroff and Johnson delivered consecutive kills before a Bethel attack error brought the Builders within three at 19-16. Bethel responded following a timeout, scoring the final six points to secure the first set, 25-16.
The Builders battled Bethel closely early in the second set. A kill from Charli Richardson tied the score at 1, and Southwestern later took a 5-4 advantage following a Bethel attack error. The Threshers answered with a run of their own and eventually built an 11-6 lead.
Southwestern continued trying to close the gap, getting kills from Lesquier, Deffebaugh and Richardson, but Bethel used a lengthy service run to pull away. The Threshers turned a 13-8 advantage into a 22-8 lead before eventually closing the set, 25-10.
Southwestern remained competitive early in the third. The Builders tied the set at 4-4 and again at 5-5 before taking a 6-5 advantage. Bethel responded and eventually created separation with a 9-2 run that gave the Threshers a 14-7 lead.
The Builders continued battling behind kills from Lesquier and Weber, but Bethel's offense proved difficult to slow down. The Threshers recorded 19 kills and hit .316 in the final set before closing out the match, 25-12.
Lesquier was one of Southwestern's most efficient offensive options, finishing with three kills on nine attempts without an attack error for a .333 hitting percentage. Weber added three kills and a block assist, while Johnson finished with three kills and four digs. Deffebaugh contributed two kills, two digs and a block assist.
Joely-Petroff contributed across the floor with eight assists, seven digs, two kills and a block assist. Natalie Blaufuss added seven assists, while Brooklyn Milleson and Richardson led the defensive effort with nine digs a piece.
Bethel received a balanced offensive performance, led by Cameron Offerle's 12 kills. Dylan Cochran finished with 11 kills, 12 digs and two service aces, while Alayna Vines recorded 10 kills on a .400 hitting percentage, six block assists and two aces. Dalaina Schutte directed the offense with 38 assists.
Southwestern will return to action Monday, Oct. 5, against Randall University at Stewart Fieldhouse. First serve against the Saints is scheduled for 6 p.m.
