MISHAWAKA, Ind. — The Bethel Pilots (15-12, 5-7) joined the Crossroads League in the league-wide Dig Pink Night cause to bring awareness to the fight against Cancer with pink warm-up shirts and Hello Gorgeous! in attendance against the #22 Marian Knights (17-5, 8-4) Wednesday night in the Gates Gymnasium.
The Knights showed strong serving with eight aces over the Pilots and had eight blocks at the net, but the Pilots still battled despite being swept 21-25, 20-25, 18-35.
The first set tied 17-17 with Haley Biedenbach’s dump for a kill, then tied the set again 18-18. The set went back and forth to 21-21 before the Knights went on a 4-0 run to win the first set 25-21.
The second set was tied four times in the early points, but the Knights stormed out of the 9-9 tie with a 6-1 run. The Pilots held off set point for two points thanks to a Marian attack error and a Maddy Payne kill, but they ultimately lost the second set 25-20.
The Knights rushed to an 8-2 advantage and remained steady to put away the third set 25-18 and the match 3-0.
Bethel is tied for third place in the Crossroads League standings at 5-7 with the Huntington Foresters and the Spring Arbor Cougars, whom the Pilots defeated in five set matches this season: Huntington twice and Spring Arbor once.
The Pilots travel to Marion, Ind., and the Troyer Fieldhouse for another tough match with the #9 Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats on Saturday, Oct. 19, with the first serve set for noon.