WICHITA, Kan. — The Friends University Falcons produced a big rally in the fourth set to stay alive in the match, but the Bethany College Swedes regrouped and took the fifth set to win 3-2 in the KCAC opener today (Sept. 26) inside the Garvey Center.
Friends dominated the opening set 25-15, using a 7-1 burst to go from a 16-13 edge to a commanding 23-14 lead.
Bethany took the second set 25-22 to tie the match at 1-1. Friends got five kills from
Sofia Mekelburg and cut a 22-17 deficit to 22-21 late, but Bethany closed the set with a Kailyn Jefferson kill and an Anna Volt service ace.
With the Swedes narrowly leading the third set 16-15, winning four of the next five points allowed Bethany to take control and win 25-21 to jump ahead in the match.
The Falcons then trailed 12-3 in the fourth set, but charged back and caught the Swedes 19-19 following back-to-back kills from
Gabbie Taylor and
Natalie Castillo. After a kill by Ashlyn Gehring temporarily put the Swedes back in front,
Addison Fulton tied it again with a kill and consecutive service aces by
Bailey Wilson put the Falcons on top to stay. Friends finished the comeback 25-21 to force the decisive fifth set. Taylor had five of Friends' 14 kills in the pivotal set.
But the Swedes responded and won the fifth set 15-9 by scoring the final four points of the match to put it away.
Taylor contributed across the board for the Falcons, leading the team with a career-high 21 kills while adding 19 digs. Wilson collected a team-high 22 digs, with
Amber Ellis and
Lynzee Neal combining to facilitate the offense with career-highs of 25 assists and 24 assists, respectively. Fulton posted five total blocks, including one solo block for Friends and Mekelburg finished with 13 kills.
Ashlyn Gehring finished with 18 kills and 18 digs for the Swedes. Josie McLean recorded 40 assists, 12 kills and 11 digs, while Keylian Gomez Quiles collected a team-high 25 digs for Bethany.
The Falcons will next play at the University of Saint Mary Wednesday night (Sept. 30) starting at 7 pm in Leavenworth, Kan.
