MISHAWAKA, Ind. --- The Bethel Pilots (3-1) won both games on Saturday as they finished the Adidas GameOne Pilot Invitational in the Gates Gymnasium. The Pilots defeated Calumet College of St. Joseph (1-2) and Clarke University (0-4) without dropping a set.
VS CALUMET COLLEGE OF ST. JOSEPH (IND.)
Christian Woumnga and
Thomas Dunkley were the kill leaders for the game, with each player contributing 13 kills. Dunkley also led the team in aces with three.
Santana Roybal-Benson led the team in blocks, recording five. He also had an ace against the Crimson Wave.
Maik Herbst led the Bethel offense in assists, posting 36. He also recorded an impressive total of three blocks.
Lucas Nascimento and
Maik Herbst each totaled six digs for their defensive efforts.
The Pilots struggled at the beginning of the first set, with the Crimson Wave gaining an early four-point lead (4-0).
Christian Woumnga scored the first and second kills for Bethel, as Bethel trailed by three (6-3).
Bethel called the first timeout of the match. After the break,
Thomas Dunkley scored the first kill. The Pilots gained another four points as the Crimson Wave made four consecutive hitting errors.
The end of set one remained a point-for-point battle.
Thomas Dunkley got the final kill of the match as Bethel triumphed 25-23.
In set two,
Jibbe Boeren posted the first earned point for the Pilots with a kill, as Bethel trailed by two points (5-3). Sebastian Rodrigez served the first ace of the set, tying the score 6-6.
Christian Woumnga initiated a three-point run for Bethel with a kill mid-set. The Crimson Wave made two attacking errors as the Pilots led 19-16. Woumnga got a solid block to take the second set for Bethel (25-20).
The Pilots and the Crimson Wave once again battled for points in the early minutes of the third set. Calumet had the first significant lead (12-9) after scoring three kills on Bethel's defense.
Following two kills by
Thomas Dunkley and an attacking error from Calumet, both teams were tied 15-15.
As both teams persevered,
Thomas Dunkley got a kill to give Bethel a one-point lead (26-25).
Woumnga secured the win for the Pilots with another kill to end the game (27-25).
VS CLARKE (IOWA)
Christian Woumnga led the Pilots in kills against Clarke, recording 10.
Thomas Dunkley had eight, and
Carson Moore had three.
Jibbe Boeren led the team in blocks, recording eight.
McGwire Eigenrauch recorded 19 assists for the Pilots.
Sebastian Rodriguez totaled three digs and three aces for Bethel.
The Pilots had an aggressive start to the match, gaining an early 5-0 lead.
Sebastian Rodriguez aced the Clarke Pride (9-2), as Clarke called the first timeout of the game.
Thomas Dunkley kicked off a five-point run for Bethel mid-set, as he scored a kill off
Jibbe Boeren's assist (14-7).
Sebastian Rodriguez scored the final point of the set with a service ace. The Pilots won set one 25-10.
In the second set, Clarke's service and attacking errors gave Bethel a 4-0 lead.
Christian Woumnga got the first earned kill for the Pilots (5-1).
Following a timeout from Clarke,
Carson Moore scored a kill to bring the score to 9-1.
Thomas Dunkley scored two points in a row mid-set, with a kill and an ace to bring Bethel's score 19-13.
Ben Ritzema ended the second set with an ace, as Bethel concluded the set 25-17.
In the third set, Bethel showcased an impressive seven-point run to bring the Pilots' score 11-5. Clarke gave up three points mid-set due to attacking and setting errors. The Pilots led 19-12.
Jibbe Boeren got the final Pilot kill. Bethel defeated Clarke by an impressive ten points, finishing 25-15.
NEXT TIME OUT
The Pilots will travel to Angola, Ind. on, Tuesday, Feb 4, as they face the Trine University Thunder. They will take the court at 7:00 p.m.
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.
