GOSHEN, Ind. — It was a night of firsts for the Bethel Pilots Men’s Volleyball team (5-2, 2-0) as they defeated the Goshen Maple Leafs (4-7, 1-1) in Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference play for the first time in the Gunden Gymnasium and swept the Maple Leafs for the first time in program history Tuesday night.
The last win over the Maple Leafs came in the first-ever match between the two schools in the Goodman Gymnasium back on Feb. 14, 2023, in a five-set match 3-2. Bethel has improved their record in February to 4-1 this season and 11-14 all-time.
The Pilots had their third-highest team-hitting percentage at .390 and swung their second-lowest team errors (9) this season.
Pablo Tello hit his first double-digit kill match with 11 at a .455 hitting percentage, along with Thomas Dunkely, who ended the night with 11 kills and a .450 hitting percentage.
Santana Royball-Benson had one solo block and two block assists at the net, and Christian Woumnga ended the night with three block assists.
The match started with a slight Bethel lead at 4-2 that led to a 6-6 set tie, then soared to a tied again 7-7 after a Goshen attack error followed by a service error by BU.
Bethel took the first set 25-16 after a 13-5 run that ended with a one-two-punch by Jibbe Boeren (24-16) and Dunkley to seal the set.
The Pilots busted open the second set with an 8-3 run capped by Tello before a service error ended the run to bring the match to 8-4.
Goshen battled to close the gap to a two-point 17-15 deficit, then with a set point on the line at 24-18, Goshen scored twice off a Pilot service error and attack error before sealing the second 25-20.
The third began like the second with an 8-3 Pilot run, but GC tied the set 10-10, then proceeded to tie the set two more times at 11-11 and 12-12.
The Maple Leafs had five errors in a Bethel 6-2 run and a Tello kill to separate to an 18-14 Bethel lead before rolling to a 25-17 set three victory and securing the sweep.
The Pilots face a non-conference test with the Olivet Nazarene Tigers, who are receiving votes in the NAIA Preseason Poll, in the Goodman Gymnasium on Friday, Feb. 14 at 7 p.m.
The Tigers are 2-3 this season and on a three-match losing streak, including a loss to the Maple Leafs back on Feb. 4 in a five-setter 3-2. The other two losses include No. 11 Missouri Baptist and No. 14 Campbellsville.