JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Bethel Pilots (8-6, 4-3) began their spring break trip with a sweep over NCAA Division II Edward Waters (0-10, 0-0) in the Adams-Jenkins Community Sports and Music Complex over the weekend.
Pablo Tello led the Pilot offensive with 13 kills and a .375 hitting percentage, Christian Woumnga had nine kills with only two errors for a .333 hitting percentage, and Thomas Dunkley finished with eight kills and a .500 hitting percentage, his second-highest this season.
The Pilots started the match from behind, fighting to a set tie 5-5, but Thomas Dunkley gave Bethel a 6-5 lead.
With the first set tied 13 all, Bethel went on a 6-1 run, with Tello capping it off with a kill, 18-14. Edward Waters gave Bethel set point from an attack error by Bryce Simmons, and Ben Ritzema put set one away with an ace 25-16.
The Tigers found themselves with an 11-9 advantage in the second before BU fought to tie the set 14-14 from Dunkley’s kill. Devonte Harmon tied the set 16 all, but Bethel began to pull away after Woumnga’s kill at 19-17. Woumnga would later put the set away with a kill 25-21.
The third was tight into extra points forced from a Pilot service error and an attack error to make it 24-24. Bethel held the advantage from kills by Dunkley at 26-25 and Santana Royball-Benson at 27-26, but an attack error by Richard Hendricks ended the third set 28-26 and the match 3-0.
Bethel moves on to Miami Gardens, Fla., to take on the Saint Thomas Bobcats on Monday, Mar. 3 at 5 p.m.