Bethel Takes Down No. 23 Spring Arbor in Four

SPRING ARBOR, Mich. ---The Bethel Pilots (12-8, 4-3) showcased a terrific four-set upset win over the No. 23 Spring Arbor University Cougars (15-4, 3-4) on Wednesday evening. 

In their last Crossroads League showdown, the Pilots fell in five sets to Spring Arbor on Oct. 30th, 2024. 

Tonight, the Pilots came back from a 29-27 first set loss to win the following sets 25-18, 25-22, and 26-24.

Ultimately, Bethel's hitting percentage remained a key factor in the win. The Pilots posted a 0.149 hitting percentage, while Spring Arbor recorded 0.098.

Haley Biedenbach unveiled her best performance of the year, recording a season high for assists (45) and digs (23) in a single game. 

Jess Hand tied with Biedenbach for most digs, also recording 23. 

Head Coach Erica Dregits shared, "We were able to divide our offense among many players tonight, which resulted in scoring opportunities. Our floor defense was the heartbeat of the team tonight. They were fearless, scrappy, and showed a lot of grit! This was a total team win!"

Taylor Delp, who recorded a season high for kills in a single game (13), shared her thoughts on the upset. She wrote, "Tonight we played calm and collected, never letting the tough battles shake us. We trusted each other, stayed composed, and played like the united team I've always known we could be."

The Pilots' next Crossroads League matchup will be held this Saturday, Sept. 27th at 1:00 PM in the Gates Gymnasium. Bethel will host the University of Saint Francis Cougars (4-15, 0-7), whom they previously swept on Nov. 2nd, 2024. 

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