MISHAWAKA, Ind. --- The Bethel Pilots (6-4, 3-1) faced their first NAIA top-15 opponent of the season in the No. 15 Indiana Tech Warriors on Tuesday night. The last time the Pilots hosted an NAIA top-15 team was the Lourdes Graywolves on April 9, 2024, inside the Goodman Gymnasium.

Pablo Tello led the team in kills (11) at a .172 hitting percentage and seven digs, and Maik Herbst walked away with 28 assists.

The Warriors charged to an 11-3 run thanks to three service aces and a slew of Pilot attack errors.

Christian Woumnga broke the run with a kill, followed by an ace by Woumnga to bring the first set to 11-5.

Bethel got within three points with back-to-back service errors by Pablo Tello and Kristian Kold before Tello and Womnga scored, 14-11.

The set was tied 22-22 from an attack error by a block from Santana Royball-Benson and Woumnga, then Thomas Dunkley aced the Warriors and had a service error to force extra points 24 all. An attack error from Tello and an Indiana Tech ace secured the first set for ITT 26-24.

Indiana Tech jumped to another 9-3 run in the second set that ended with an ITT attack error to make it 9-4.

Maik Herbst timed a solo block perfectly to disrupt two consecutive ITT kills, with Royball-Benson and Woumnga combining for a block on the next rally to put the Pilots down by two 20-18, but would ultimately fall behind by two sets after the second ended 25-22.

Bethel took charge in the third set after being tied 10 all with Dunkley scoring at 11-10, then the Pilots led until 21-21, where the match was decided by a service error to give Indiana Tech the set 25-23 and the match sweep.

The Pilots take to the road for the rest of the week with Siena Heights in Adrian, Mich., on Friday, Feb. 21, and the RV Lourdes Graywolves on Saturday, Feb. 22, at 2 p.m.

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