[Volleyball] Volleyball Holds On For 3-2 Win At Bethany

Set 1:

The two teams would trade points early to start the set, as Sterling would get kills from Jordan Graham and Makenzie Cork. The Swedes would start to pull away midway through the set to take a 14-9 lead, but kills from Eliana Ponce, Patti Delgadillo, and Chelsey Nichols would help the Lady Warriors close the gap to tie the set at 18-18. However, Bethany would push ahead late to take the first set of the match over Sterling, 25-23. 

Set 2:

In the second set, Bethany would keep the early momentum in their favor, taking an early 7-3 lead against Sterling. Kills from Jordan Graham, Makenzie Cork, and Chelsey Nichols would help keep Sterling in the set, as the Lady Warriors would claw back to reach within one. The Swedes would then extend their lead to 17-10, looking to close out the second set. However, Sterling continued to fight, as Eliana Ponce, Jordan Graham, Makenzie Cork would collect kills to cut into the Bethany lead. After a kill from Makenzie Cork to tie the set at 21-21, the Lady Warriors would use a 4-0 run, ending the rally with a kill from Hailee Hoskinson to take the second set over the Swedes, 25-21. 

Set 3:

In the third set, the Swedes would jump out to another quick lead, making it 8-3 over the Lady Warriors. Errors made by the Swedes would keep Sterling close, as kills from Jordan Graham, Makenize Cork, and Chelsey Nichols would help the Lady Warriors close the gap. After back-to-back kills from Sarah Ahrens and Hailee Hoskinson, Sterling would take a 17-16 lead midway through the third set. The Swedes would keep close late in the action, but kills from Colleen Meffert, Jordan Graham, and Patti Delgadillo would give the Lady Warriors the set three win, 25-22. 

Set 4:

The fourth set would be a battle between both teams, as Sterling and Bethany kept the score close throughout. The Lady Warriors would get started early behind the attack of Patti Delgadillo and Chelsey Nichols to lead 13-11 midway through the set. Sterling would the use a 7-3 run to take a 20-14 lead, but the Swedes would rally back late in the set to tie the match at 23-23. Kills from Jordan Graham and a block from Mikaela Wells and Makenzie Cork would keep Sterling in the mix, but the Swedes would push through to take the fourth set over the Lady Warriors, 27-25. 

Set 5:

In the fifth and final set, Sterling would take control from the beginning. Kills from Jordan Graha, Makenzie Cork, and Patti Delgadillo, along with an ace from Sarah Ahrens would put the Lady Warriors ahead 6-1. A block from Hailee Hoskinson and Makenzie Cork, followed by a pair of kills from Chelsey Nichols would give Sterling an 12-5 lead late in the set. An ace from Naomi Abeyta, followed by a kill from Colleen Meffert and a Swede error would give the Lady Warriors the 15-6set five victory and the match over Bethany, 3-2.

Makenzie Cork led Sterling with 17 kills, followed by Jordan Graham with 15 and Chelsey Nichols and Patti Delgadillo each with 10. Sarah Ahrens finished with 27 assists, while Mikaela Wells added 14. Alexandra Reid finished with 27 digs, followed by Kristen Calderwood with 13 and Breanna Akiu with 11. Makenzie Cork also finished with a team high six blocks in the win. 

Sterling (12-11, 3-3) hosts the York College Panthers on Saturday, October 13th in the Gleason Center at 7:00 p.m.

Be sure to check for news and updates on Sterling Warrior Athletics on Facebook (/SCWarriors), Twitter (@SterlingCSports), and Instagram (sterlingcsports), as well as the hashtag #swordsup. Watch all of the Warriors' live home events on the Sterling College Sports Network