MISHAWAKA, Ind. — The Bethel Pilots (17-13, 7-8) met in a dog fight with the #16 Grace Lancers (19-6, 12-3) in the Gates Gymnasium on Saturday in a five-set 25-22, 21-25, 24-26, 25-19, 17-15 victory with Haley Biedenbach tallying a season-high 56 assists.
Bethel wasted no time jumping to a 7-3 lead in the first set with Maddy Payne accounting for three kills and Ainsley Tacke for two.
Grace tied the set 13-13 from Brea Harris’ kill and Leah Henderson answered Payne’s kill to tie again 14 all, then go back-and-forth until the Pilots won the first set 25-22.
The second set was knotted up at 13-13 but at 17-16, the Lancers held a couple-point lead into the set win 25-21. In the third, Bethel held the lead until 11-11 where the Lancers took charge and grew to a 19-16 lead. The Pilots tied the set at 22-22 and then battled to 24-24 but lost the set in two consecutive attack errors to give Grace the third set 26-24 and the 2-1 set lead.
Bethel jumped to a 10-3 opening run and got to 20-13 in a hurry leaving the Lancers behind in the fourth 25-19 and forcing a fifth set.
The fifth was tied nine times, with neither side backing down and forcing extra points for the second time during the match. Two consecutive Lancer errors gave Bethel the 17-15 set win, and the match won 3-2.
The Pilots are in the final sprint for the Crossroads League Tournament and are in fifth place in the Crossroads League Standings below the Marian Knights at 10-5.
As it stands, BU is set for the fifth seed in the Crossroads League Tournament despite a scenario where Marian loses out and Bethel wins out but would lose the head-to-head tie to the Knights and still have the Pilots in fifth.
Bethel faces the Spring Arbor Cougars on Wednesday, Oct. 30 at 7 p.m. in the McDonald Athletic Center.