Avila Falls in Second Straight Five-Set Contest

LINDSBORG, Kan. – In a critical conference contest, Avila (11-18, 2-7 KCAC) and Bethany (6-19, 2-7 KCAC) played four hotly-contested sets before the Swedes ultimately handled the fifth and final frame to secure an important home victory on Saturday night in Lindsborg.

Both of these two teams are likely to make the 2022 KCAC Tournament with only a couple of conference games still to play, but this result means it will be harder for Avila to host a first round postseason game for the second time in three seasons – though, with three KCAC matches left, it's still a possibility.

In any case, on Saturday the Eagles headed back to the site where their 2021 season ended in the KCAC Tournament to face the Swedes for the second time this season – and for the second time this season, the two sides needed all five sets to decide things. The first four frames were about as even as possible: Avila saved three set points in set one before Bethany finally won 25-21; Avila scored the final four points of set two to win 25-23; Avila then scored the final five points of set three to win 25-22; and Bethany overcome a six-point deficit to win set four 25-22 and force a fifth.

In that fifth set, however, it was all Swedes. Bethany was only charged with one attacking error in the set, and the Swedes reeled off the final eight points of the night on the serve of Alyssa George to claim the deciding set 15-4 and send the Eagles home with their second straight five-set setback.

Bethany also won the varsity reserve match in a deciding set. Four Swedes finished in double figures in kills, led by Zola Moore, who led all players with 17 on .231 hitting. D'Ovion Williams had another good all-around game for the Eagles, pacing the squad with 11 kills on .273 hitting with a whopping seven block assists. Abigail Blake tied for the match lead with 40 digs.

Up next, Avila will hit the road once again for what is now an even more important match against a struggling Tabor team this Tuesday, October 25, in Hillsboro. First serve is scheduled for 7 PM; as always, you can watch all the action on the KCAC Sports Network.