Coyotes fall in three sets to Bethel
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

Ashley Geasland (right) puts goes for a kill against Bethel's Kari Thimm (left) and Mallory Haedt during the first set of Thursday night's match

Kansas Wesleyan wrapped up its first round through the Kansas Conference with a three set loss to Bethel College on Thursday night inside Muir Gymnasium. The Coyotes continued to play competitively in each set, falling 25-21, 25-19, 25-20.

The match started with an impressive rally between the two teams before the Coyotes were able to get the first point, and jump out to a 2-0 lead on a kill from Sarah Claborn. After Bethel got a point on a block, Claborn made a great play saving the ball back from the Bethel side of the net and the Coyotes were able to win the point to go up 3-1.

The Coyotes led 4-1 when Bethel came charging back. A block out of bounds started the rally and the Threshers tied things up at 4-all. Two points by the Coyotes pushed Wesleyan back to a 6-4 lead, but again Bethel answered back with two points of its own to tie it again. A Bethel service error gave KWU a 7-6 lead, but the Threshers would then score five of the next six points to take an 11-8 lead. The Coyotes got back within a single point twice at 11-10 and again at 12-11, but two straight from Bethel opened the set up a little as the Threshers eventually pushed their lead to 22-18. Claborn would put down a big kill to get the Coyotes back within two at 23-21, but Bethel was able to score the final two points of the set to win 25-21.

For the first time all season, Wesleyan’s crowd got behind the Coyotes at the start of the second set, spurring KWU to jump out to a 7-3 on a Bethel service error. Bethel would answer back, scoring five in a row to take an 8-7 lead. KWU tied it at 8-all before the Threshers again rolled off five in a row to take a 13-8 lead. Back-to-back kills from Jennifer McConnell and Ashley Geasland would get the Coyotes back within three at 13-10, and both teams would trade points back and forth for the next six points until Bethel broke the pattern getting two in a row to take an 18-13 lead. The Coyotes answered back with two straight on kills by Claborn and Jordyn Rahlf, but Kathleen Thomas would hit a ball long to spark another back and forth session between the teams. Ashley Geasland put down a ball with authority to get the Coyotes within three at 22-19, but the Coyotes could not build on the play as Bethel’s Christy Weems put down a kill as the Threshers rolled of the final three points of the set to win 25-19.

Bethel (13-7, 8-1 KCAC) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the third set, but the Coyotes hung in, staying within three at 9-6 on a Claborn kill, but the Threshers rolled off three in a row to take a 12-6 lead and force a KWU timeout. The Coyotes fought back sparking on a Rahlf kill to outscore Bethel 6-1 over the next seven points to tie things up at 15-all. However, Bethel would rally, outscoring Wesleyan 7-1 over the next eight to take a 22-16 lead. The Coyotes would not get any closer than 23-19 the rest of the way as Bethel used a block to end the match.

Claborn led the way with 18 kills, while Jenn Lee added 28 assists. Claborn led the way defensively with 15 digs, while Karissa Kent had 14 and Lee added 13.

Wesleyan is back to action on Monday when they host Ottawa University at 7 p.m., inside Muir Gymnasium.

-- KWU SI --