North Newton, Kan. - USM (14-14) fell to host Bethel (11-8) 3-0 in volleyball this afternoon on Saturday, October 31, at Thresher Gym in North Newton, Kansas. The set scores were 25-21, 25-13 and 25-17. The Spires stood at 6-4 in conference play, while Bethel was 8-2.

USM challenged throughout the opening set. Makenza Holly and Saige Hadley combined for a block that gave the Spires a 5-3 lead. Addison Baker later served an ace to tie it at 9-9, and Maddison Kruse followed with a kill for a one-point advantage. The Spires led 13-11 before the Threshers moved ahead 18-14. Kaylee Kindall helped bring the Spires back, putting down kills assisted by Baker to tie the set at 20-20 and 21-21. Bethel took the final four points, with Offerle delivering consecutive kills to finish the set.

Five consecutive USM attack errors helped Bethel extend a 7-4 lead to 12-4 in the second set. The deficit reached 16-6 before the Spires trimmed it to 17-9 following a SammyJo Kirk kill and a Bethel attack error. The Threshers responded with three straight kills to restore an 11-point margin. The Spires finished the set with 10 kills and 10 attack errors, while Bethel recorded 12 kills against one error.

The Spires mounted another push in the third set. Kruse and Daniella Rivera-Perez delivered consecutive kills to cut Bethel's lead to 18-12. After falling behind 21-12, USM scored four straight points, capped by Kindall's kill from Baker, to force a Bethel timeout. Vines ended that run with a kill, and the Threshers claimed four of the final five points. Offerle supplied the last two kills, both assisted by Schutte.

Kruse led the Spires with seven kills, while Kindall, Holly and Kirk added five apiece. Kindall hit .200 on 20 attempts. Baker directed the offense with 17 assists, and Kathryn VanSkiver contributed seven assists and four digs. Emma Murphy added three kills in two sets. 

Rivera-Perez anchored USM defense with a match-high 22 digs, and Hadley added 11 of the team's 56 digs. Holly recorded two block assists as the Spires totaled three team blocks to Bethel's four. Hadley and Baker each served an ace. The Spires finished with 28 kills and 24 attack errors on 129 attempts for a .031 hitting percentage, compared with Bethel's 41 kills, 13 errors and .235 hitting percentage.

Coming Up...

USM Volleyball will head back to Leavenworth for their last full week of home action in the Ryan Sports Center. USM Volleyball will celebrate Professor Appreciation night as they kick off their final week of conference play against the Ottawa University Braves on Wednesday November 4^th at 7:00 p.m.