KOKOMO, Ind. –The Bethel Pilots (3-0) upheld their winning streak on Wednesday night with a huge upset over No. 8 IU Kokomo (0-1).
The 19-17 5th set win marks not only new season excitement, but also significant program growth.
The Bethel Pilots last faced the Cougars on August 24th last year, falling 3-2 at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne. The then No. 16 Cougars took the fifth set 15-9.
Head Coach Erica Dregits shared, “We were fighting on all cylinders tonight. We had a well-balanced offense, got lots of blocks and block touches, and our defense was phenomenal.”
Ainsley Tacke led the Bethel Pilots in both kills (19) and aces (two).
Breyana Bosket totaled seven blocks (four solo and three assisted).
Haley Biedenbach recorded 45 assists (averaging nine per set) in an outstanding performance.
The Lady Pilots demonstrated formidable mental toughness in the fifth set, after five consecutive attacking errors contributed to a fourth set 25-13 loss.
In the opening of the fifth, an attacking error by the Cougars put Bethel up 4-3.
Ainsley Tacke soon scored on her fourth kill of the set to give Bethel a nail-biting 11-9 lead.
The Cougars were determined to not fall without a fight, in a 16-16 tug of war for points.
Junior Liberty Pierson put the final earned point on the board for Bethel with an 18-17 kill, assisted by Haley Biedenbach.
A fatal attacking error by the Cougars sent the Pilots off to celebrate a 19-17 fifth set win.
Senior Pin Hitter Ainsley Tacke shared, “Today was a team win! Our bench had tons of energy which translated to how we played! We went in as the underdogs but came out on top! I couldn’t be more proud of this team.”
The Bethel Pilots will next travel to Fort Wayne, Ind. to face Lawrence Tech on Friday, August 22nd at 10:30 a.m.