FORT WAYNE, Ind. --- The Bethel Pilots Women's Volleyball team (4-0) defeated West Virginia Tech 3-0 and the University of Northwestern Ohio Racers 3-1 to finish the Onset Invitational 4-0 to start the season.
VS WEST VIRGINIA TECH
No one dominated the first set, but the Pilots fought out of a 19-19 tie with a 6-2 run and won 25-21.
The Golden Bears bolted to a 5-1 lead in the second set, but a kill by Isabelle Greene and WVU Tech mistakes helped the Pilots climb to 5-4.
The set would tie twice before Maddy Payne gave the Pilots a 21-20 lead from a kill, then Sophia Johnston secured the 24th point before a WVU Tech attack error gave Bethel a 2-0 set lead.
The Pilots rallied at 8-7 with a 4-0 run to get to 12-7 in the third set and would maintain around a four- or five-point lead and secure their ninth straight set victory going into their final match of the Onset Invitational.
Isabelle Greene continued her streak of 10+ kills in a match with 13 in the Pilots' third sweep this season. Maddy Pain ended the match with nine kills, one ace, and four blocks.
"I was just thinking about every single time I got the ball, just putting it away and getting a point to keep building momentum," said Greene.
VS UNOH
The Pilots went to extra points for the first time this season in the first set after fighting back from a 14-7 deficit with a four and three-point run to tie the first set at 19 all.
Both sides took points back and forth until 25, all when UNOH scored on back-to-back attack errors to give the Racers the first-set victory.
At 7-6 in the second set, Bethel fought back with a four-point run to take the lead 10-7, then took another four-point run to lead 15-8.
With a 20-12 lead, the Pilots went on one final five-point run to win set two 25-12.
Set 3 was a steady momentum builder for the Pilots with four two-point runs and a set three victory 25-15.
At 11 all in the third set, Bethel caught one final run to secure their fourth victory in a row and a solid start to the season at the Onset Invitational hosted by Saint Francis (Ind.).
"It's very exciting, they were a great team, so it was a great experience being able to play," said Taylor Delp after her first quality match with nine kills and three blocks against UNOH.
NEXT TIME OUT
The Pilots travel to Kokomo, Ind. for the IU-Kokomo Invitational on Aug. 25-26 to take on Cornerstone University, Saint Xavier (Ill.), RV IU Kokomo and IU East.
Cornerstone is playing its first match against the Pilots after finishing the 2022 season with an overall record of 34-4 and a perfect record in the WHAC at 20-0.
The Golden Eagles finished their season with a 3-0 loss to NAIA #1 Eastern Oregon with wins over RV Saint Xavier and RV St. Thomas (Fl.) in the NAIA National Tournament Pool play.
For the latest information on each of Bethel University's 31 intercollegiate athletic teams, visit BUPilots.com or follow the Pilots on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @BUPilots or on YouTube at /BethelSportsNetwork.
