MISHAWAKA, Ind. --- Under the hot sun of September, the Bethel Pilots (2-0) prepared for a big Crossroads League showdown with the NAIA 15th-ranked Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats (0-2) on Thursday with a 33-year drought hanging in the balance.

The Pilots won for the first time in program history to the Wildcats 4-3 and the last time that BU scored a point was in 2013 when the Pilots lost 7-2.

The doubles point was secured by Bethel from the performances of Szilvi Ferenczy and Kaavy Palani in one doubles 6-3 and Ariadni Kokoula and Farida El Sayed in two doubles 7-6 (5).

Two singles was a dog fight between IWU's France Antezana and Bethel's Kaavya Palani that went to the wire 7-6 (4) and 7-6 (2) for the Wildcat point but Ferenczy won the point in three singles against Indiana Wesleyan's Katie Parr 7-6 (3), 6-2.

The Pilots sealed points in five singles with Sandy Sharaf winning 6-2, 6-2, and four singles by Kenzy Abdelaal 6-2, 6-1.


"This was a total team effort and a huge step forward for our program. IWU has set the dominance bar for the last 33 years, and to come away with the win today is a huge confidence booster for our ladies.  Szilvi (Ferenczy) and Kaavya (Palani) played some of the best doubles I've seen in a long time, and the singles play of Szilvi, Kenzy (Abdelaal) and Sandy (Sharaf) were clutch performances," said head coach Jamal Henry.

FULL SET SCORES

Doubles:

1. Szilvi Ferenczy/Kaavya Palani (B) def. France Antezana/Sofia Munoz (IWU)    6-3

2. Ariadni Kokoula/Farida El Sayed (B) def. Lauren Dick/Maria Oliveira (IWU)       7-6 (5)

3. Katie Parr/Meribel Jarna (IWU) def. Kenzy Abdelaal/Sandy Sharaf (B)               6-4

Singles: 

1. Sofia Munoz (IWU) def. Ariadni Kokoula (B)     6-1, 6-1

2. France Antezana (IWU) def. Kaavya Palani (B)       7-6 (4), 7-6 (2)

3. Szilvi Ferenczy (B) def. Katie Parr (IWU)    7-6 (3), 6-2

4. Kenzy Abdelaal (B) def. Meribel Jarna (IWU)       6-2, 6-1

5. Sandy Sharaf (B) def. Maria Oliveira (IWU)  6-2, 6-2

6. Lauren Dick (IWU) def. Alexia Peña (B) 6-2, 3-6, 10-1

NEXT TIME OUT

The Pilots travel to Goshen, Ind. to take on the Goshen Maple Leafs on Saturday, Sept. 7 with a two-match win steak under their belt as they continue the Crossroads League season.

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.