Box Score MISHAWAKA, Ind.--- In the first conference match of the season, the Bethel Pilots (4-1, 1-0) defeated the Mount Vernon Nazarene Cougars (1-4, 0-1) in the Goodman Gymnasium for the first time in program history. The Pilots triumphed in three sets (25-17, 25-18, 25-16) on Friday night.

Maik Herbst etched his name into the record books for total aces in a single game (five). He is now tied for first place with Ege Gul, who also had five aces against Trinity Christian College (Ill.) on Mar. 15, 2023. 

Christian Woumnga scored 11 points for the Pilots with eight kills, two service aces, and two block assists. 

Santana Roybal-Benson also scored double digits (10.5) with six kills, two solo blocks, three block assists, and one service ace. 

In the first set, Jibbe Boeren got the first earned kill of the game to tie the score 1-1. Maik Herbst recorded two consecutive aces to give Bethel a two-point lead (3-1).

Bethel made a series of errors, granting the Cougars a four-point run. The Pilots regained a lead when the Cougars followed suit with three attacking errors in a row, initiating a six-point run for Bethel. 

Santana Roybal-Benson got the final kill to win the first set 25-17 for the Pilots. 

In the second set, Pablo Tello posted the first earned kill for the Pilot offense as the Pilots trailed by one (4-3). Tello also kickstarted a four-point run, which ended with an ace by Christian Woumnga (6-4). 

Bethel had a five-point lead as Mount Vernon called their second timeout of the set. The Pilots ended the second set 25-18 with two consecutive service aces by Thomas Dunkley. 

At the onset of the third set, Maik Herbst continued to bring the heat from behind the service line, recording another ace to tie the score 1-1. 

The Pilots gained a five-point lead over the Cougars with a kill by Santana Roybal-Benson (12-7), as Mount Vernon called a timeout.

Despite Mount Vernon's three-point run mid-set, The Pilots retained their lead. Pablo Tello scored the final kill to conclude the third set (25-16) and solidify Bethel's historic win over Mount Vernon. 
The Pilots will continue conference play on Tuesday, Feb. 11 at 7 p.m. in the U.S. Highway 20 Cup. They will face the Goshen College Maple Leafs in the Ruth Gunden Gymnasium.

For the latest information on each of Bethel University's 28 intercollegiate athletic teams, visit BUPilots.com or follow the Pilots on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @BUPilots or on YouTube at /BethelSportsNetwork.