Mishawaka, Ind. — The Bethel University Men’s Volleyball squad (5-11, 3-9) was swept 3-0 by RV Cornerstone (14-5, 7-5) Saturday afternoon in the Goodman Gymnasium.
A hard-fought first set from the Pilots as they had a small two or three-point lead for most of the set until a five-point run was made by Cornerstone after the Pilots led 21-19, which then made the set to 24-21 CU. The Pilots gained another point from a service error but lost the next point, which resulted in a 25-22 first-set loss.
Cornerstone started hot in the second set as they gained a 10-3 lead. Bethel was able to chip away at the lead and pulled within three (18-15) due to CU errors and kills from Ben Ritzema and Arthur Barreto. The end of the set finished with each team taking turns on who earned the point, which made the score at the end of the second set 25-20, Cornerstone.
CU took another lead right out of the gate (12-5) and left BU chasing the lead again. The Pilots put up a terrific fight as they chipped away and took the lead (19-18) from an 11-5 run created by kills from Mustafa Yildiz, Barreto, and Ritzema.
The Pilots could not hold off CU as they went on a 7-2 run to close out the sweep on the road.
Mustafa Yildiz and Arthur Barreto led the Pilots in kills (8), while Yildiz also had one service ace, one solo block, and seven block assists.
Ben Ritzema had six kills, two digs, two solo blocks, and two block assists; Erik Malek led in assists with 25, two block assists, and four digs.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- Josiah Wilson had a career-high in kills (6).
- CU led in digs with 26, while Bethel had 20.
NEXT TIME OUT
The Pilots will travel to Goshen, Ind. to take on Goshen College for the US Highway 20 Cup on March 7th at 7:00 p.m in the Gunden Gymnassium.
