MISHAWAKA, Ind. --- It was a boisterous environment in the Gates Gymnasium for the home opener for Women's Volleyball as they split with Rio Grande (Ohio) Red Storm and Concordia (Mich.) Cardinals on Saturday.


VS RIO GRANDE

The match went five sets and a couple of injuries slowed down the Pilot offense who hit .155 against the Red Storm who hit .212 against the Pilots.

Maddy Payne led the Pilots with 16 kills and was efficient at a .406 hitting percentage on 32 attempts and the sophomore Taylor Delp left match one with nine kills and only one error. Paige Hickey led with 11 digs out of the Pilots 53.

Bethel took sets one and two 25-19 and 26-24 in two tightly contested sets but Rio Grande fought back to complete the reverse sweep 25-19, 27-25, and 15-8. 

The Pilots are now 1-1 against the Red Storm all-time and 0-1 at home after their 3-2 loss.


VS CONCORDIA

Breyana Bosket set a career-high 10 kills alongside great offensive performances by Ainsley Tacke with 15 kills (.375 hitting percentage) and Taylor Delp who ended the match with 12 to combine for 21 kills for the day.

Liberty Pierson added nine of the Pilots 56 digs and the Pilots tallied 26 total blocks including Maddy Payne's nine block assists.

In Bethel's 3-1 win, the win margin was not lower than five points but was slimmer in sets one and two winning by three points and losing set three by two.

The Pilots are undefeated all-time against the Cardinals and now hold a record of 9-0 and 3-0 at home.


NEXT TIME OUT

The Pilots host another Tri-Match on Wednesday, Aug. 21 at 3 p.m. against the Siena Heights Saints and 7 p.m. against the IU-South Bend Titans in the Gates Gymnasium.


For more information about Bethel Pilots Athletics check out bupilots.com or on Instagram, Facebook, X, and YouTube by searching @bupilots or the hashtag #AnchorUp for updates on all 31 Bethel Pilots sports.