WICHITA, Kan. — The Friends University Falcons celebrated Senior Night with a split inside the Garvey Center tonight (Oct. 18), losing 3-0 to the Bethel College Threshers before bouncing back to defeat Haskell Indian Nations University by the same 3-0 tally. 

Falcons vs. Bethel

First Set  
- The Falcons and Bethel traded points early, with the score tied at 6-6 following a service error by Bethel.  
- Friends pulled ahead 11-9 with kills from Maddy Hildebrand and Sofia Mekelburg.  
- The Threshers regained momentum, tying it 16-16 with a kill from Dylan Cochran and pulling ahead with a kill by Cameron Offerle.  
- Bethel closed the set with a 5-1 run, capped by a point from Darla Crow, ending the frame at 25-20 in their favor.

Second Set  
- The Falcons started strongly with a 3-1 edge, highlighted by kills from Maddy Hildebrand and Gabbie Taylor.  
- Bethel responded with a 5-0 run, fueled by three consecutive kills from Landree Merriman, to take a 6-4 lead.  
- Friends rallied late in the set with four straight points, including two aces from Emma Sargeant, to move ahead 17-15.  
- Bethel closed the set on a decisive 7-1 run, capped by an Alayna Vines kill, securing the set 25-22.

Third Set  
- Bethel opened with a decisive 6-1 run, highlighted by kills from Alayna Vines and Cameron Offerle, prompting a Friends timeout at 6-1.  
- Following the timeout, Bethel continued their momentum with service aces from Offerle, extending their lead to 10-3.  
- Friends rallied with a 5-point streak, including a service ace from Gabbie Taylor, narrowing the gap to 18-9 before Bethel called a timeout.  
- Bethel secured the set with a commanding finish, taking the last six points to win 25-9.  

Friends Top Performers  

Emma Sargeant  
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- 15 assists  
- three service aces  

Randi Reid  
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- 10 assists

Sofia Mekelburg  
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- eight kills 

Jacey Moulton  
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- 13 digs  

Grace McClintock  
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- five kills

Bethel Top Performers  

Cameron Offerle  
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- 11 kills  
- 4 service aces  
- 14 digs  

Landree Merriman  
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- 11 kills

Darla Crow  
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- 7 kills  

Langley Schutte  
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- 33 assists  

Abby Koontz  
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- 15 digs  

Falcons vs. Haskell 

First Set  
- Friends established an early 5-2 lead, highlighted by a service ace from Emma Sargeant.  
- A series of service aces and errors allowed the Falcons to extend the lead to 10-4.  
- Haskell narrowed the margin to 17-15 with a 5-0 run, including a service ace by Grace Moses-Watchman.  
- Friends responded to the challenge, winning eight of the last twelve points, capped by a service ace from Randi Reid, to take the set 25-19.

Second Set  
- Haskell began with a 3-0 lead, capitalizing on two attack errors by Friends.  
- The Falcons responded with a 6-0 run, including two kills from Maysen Bruschke, to take an 8-6 advantage.  
- Another 7-0 stretch by Friends, fueled by multiple errors from the Fightin' Indians, extended the lead to 14-8.  
- Friends maintained control and closed out the set 25-14, highlighted by a final kill from McKenzie Bartholomew.

Third Set  
- Haskell opened the set with a 4-0 run, capitalizing on two attack errors and a service ace by Jaspen Ellenwood.  
- Friends retaliated by leveling the score at 11-11, featuring a Maddy Hildebrand kill and attack errors from Haskell.  
- After trailing 16-12, Friends launched a 7-0 run, taking advantage of multiple attack errors by Haskell and a crucial kill by Gabbie Taylor to move ahead 19-17.  
- Friends maintained momentum and secured the set with a final service ace by Tammy Melendez, closing the set at 25-19.  

Friends Top Performers

Maysen Bruschke  
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- Career-high 13 kills on 20 attempts with a .650 hitting percentage  

Emma Sargeant  
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- 16 assists  
- seven digs  

Randi Reid  
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- 14 assists   

Natalie Castillo  
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- seven kills on eight attempts with a .875 hitting percentage  

Jacey Moulton  
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- 11 digs  

Maddy Hildebrand  
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- two solo blocks  

Haskell Top Performers  
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Tressa Jim  
- 10 kills    

Grace Moses-Watchman  
- 11 assists  

Jaspen Ellenwood  
- 12 assists  

Alaina Dugi    
- 13 digs  

The Falcons will next play at Evangel University Wednesday night (Oct. 22) at 7 pm in Springfield, Mo.