The competition was set and started on Saturday afternoon. The dance portion was second, as nine teams were competing. Bethel’s dance team was coming out of a fifth-place finish at the Coyote Classic earlier this season.

“Our strive and dedication to improve as a team is what’s helping us to keep getting better! We put in the work, and we all just really want to be better.” Said Mateya McCord from Newton, “I also feel like everyone on the team is getting closer, and when there’s a real connection with teammates, you will ultimately perform better.”

The scoring for dance is based on 11 different categories that must be completed. Bethel would be the second dance team to perform in the afternoon. The dancers would perform their routine once, in the afternoon. The dance team would end round one with a score of 79.41 and would help them place fifth.

“The difference this year is we are becoming more confident as a team, the skill level of the team as a whole has also increased, and they are all improving on skills and the small details it takes to stay competitive.” Said head coach Kiley McCord, “We also were able to add a few more skills in our performance from the first comp to the second and will continue to get those even more precise.”

In round two of the dance side of the competition, seven teams were competing. Bethel would be looking to build on their earlier performance. The dancers would perform their routine once again and would hope for it to be good enough to improve their score. The dance team would end the day with a score of 80.20, which would help them place third.

“Going through those tough times made me appreciate dance even more. The best part is my relationships I’ve built and the growth I’ve experienced, not just as an athlete but as the person I’m becoming. Dance gave me my family and taught me to be resilient.” Said senior Daysharia Wilkes from St. Louis, Mo., reflecting on a four-year dance career at Bethel.

“I was really excited, I had my Railer drink, and I felt really prepared. I had full faith in this team and the game plan.” Junior Alayna Vines, Lawton, OK, has been hard at work this past month, getting back into basketball after having a long volleyball season.

In the first quarter, both teams looked good and set up what appeared to be another tight contest, with the Threshers trailing 23-19. The start of the second quarter was rough for the Threshers. In the first three minutes, the Valor had an 8-0 run, which made things difficult for the girls. The Valor ended the half up 44-33.

Bethel responded to open the third quarter, putting together an 8-2 run in the first four minutes to cut the deficit to six. Vines drew multiple fouls and converted at the free-throw line.

They cut the lead to 56-54 to start the fourth. The final period kept the crowd engaged; the Valor struggled to make shots and began to deal with foul trouble. Both of their post players fouled out in the closing minutes.

It wasn’t until the clock fully expired that allowed fans to finally breathe. The girls were going into overtime, tied at 73. The crowd rose to its feet as the extra period began, bringing renewed energy inside Thresher Gym. Overtime remained tight until junior Alayna Vines knocked down a late two-pointer to give the Threshers an 81-79 lead. Bethel held on to secure the win over the No. 17 team in the country despite going 0-for-14 from 3-point range.

“Our goal was to get their post players in foul trouble, keep their point guard in front and out of the lane, and shut them down. We did all three,” head coach Jara Shoemaker said.

Bethel has found consistent success this season. The Threshers have shown growing trust in one another and confidence in the program. Bethel will return home on Valentine’s Day, hosting a 3 p.m. game at Thresher Gym.

“Stop Garner.” The big game plan for the Threshers that night was what Head Coach Jara Shoemaker emphasized before the game.

Energy-filled Thresher Gym on Wednesday night as a packed crowd watched the opening tip. Bethel brought that intensity to the defensive end immediately, forcing two steals and a turnover in the opening minute to score the game’s first points.

By halftime, the Threshers held a 31-26 lead in a tightly contested game. Friends struggled to find a rhythm offensively, as Bethel’s defense forced turnovers and disrupted scoring opportunities, including missed free throws. The second half followed a similar pattern.

Bethel appeared to settle into a strong rhythm as the game progressed, drawing a loud response from the home crowd. The Threshers played with noticeable aggression, building a 54-39 lead by the end of the third quarter against the nationally ranked Falcons.

Friends struggled to find an offensive rhythm against Bethel’s sustained defensive pressure and were unable to close the gap late. What was expected to be a close contest shifted as the Threshers extended their lead and maintained control. Bethel, unranked, closed out the game with a 72-59 victory.

“I’ve been waiting for them to play that way all year,” head coach Jara Shoemaker said after the game. “Their defense has gotten better, and their toughness has improved. That’s been my message to them. When we play at our best, we’re hard to match.”

Senior Caryn Yoder of Hesston delivered a standout performance, finishing with 17 points, five rebounds, and one steal. Her energy on both ends of the floor provided a spark for Bethel throughout the night.

“Honestly, I have to give all the credit to my teammates,” Yoder said. “I’m fortunate to have great passers and unselfish players around me. We talk about getting the ball to whoever is hot, and that night it happened to be me. When we play with energy, everyone plays better, and that was evident tonight.”

The Threshers return home Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2025, at 5 p.m. to face the Southwestern College Jinx.

“We have not really had a game where we felt like we played well, kind of just throughout. We want to play every single possession as hard as we possibly can.” Said coach Artaz

Bethel jumped out to an early lead, going up by nearly 20 points within the first 10 minutes of the first half and showing no signs of slowing down. By halftime, Bethel held a commanding 30-point lead.

“We want to play the best we can play,” Artaz said. “If we go out there and try to play soft defensively and relax, it’s going to look real ugly.” He said that mindset carried into what he expected from the team in the second half.

Bethel opened the second half with the same energy, scoring immediately while consistently creating turnovers and defensive stops.

“For our defense, our mindset is you’ve got to be a dog every day,” said sophomore Dominic Harris of Flower Mound, Texas. “When we play as hard as we can, good things happen. That’s what I try to do.” He said the approach reflects the team’s overall defensive effort.

With the game pretty shut and close, Bethel successfully keeps Tabor out, ending the game with a 35-point lead. Senior Carmelo Yakubu had an impressive game with 18 points, three steals, and two assists to be the point leader for Bethel.

The Threshers return home Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2025, at 8 p.m. to face the NO. 14 Friends University Falcons.

The first quarter was a feeling-out period, but the Threshers started strong and led 24-17. The second quarter followed a similar pattern, and the Threshers carried a 34-27 lead into halftime. Bethel kept both post players contained near the rim while also defending the perimeter.

That defensive success did not continue into the third quarter. The Threshers struggled to keep Tabor’s senior Tayton Smith from scoring at the rim, allowing the Bluejays to take a one-point lead, 35-34. Bethel struggled to find its offensive rhythm, as shots that typically fell short failed to go in.

“Our game plan coming in was to slow down Smith, who leads them in scoring and averages a double-double,” head coach Jara Shoemaker said. “They outscored us 18-10 in the third quarter, and she scored five quick points to open the half, so we had to reemphasize the game plan.”

With less than 20 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, a basket by junior Madyson McKinzie was overturned due to a shot-clock violation, giving Tabor possession with Bethel leading 61-59. Tabor responded with a 3-pointer to take a 62-61 lead.

With 6.7 seconds remaining, the Threshers called a timeout. Senior Caryn Yoder inbounded the ball to junior Kendall Locke, who looked for junior Madyson McKinzie, but Tabor’s defense disrupted the play, leaving little time on the clock. The ball ended up back in Locke’s hands. Locke dribbled to the right just beyond the 3-point line and, as time expired, released the shot and scored the game-winning basket.

“I was definitely frustrated. I think I was more frustrated with myself because I didn’t feel good today,” said Locke. “I was missing shots I make all the time, not getting calls, and I let my emotions get to me a bit. I had to refocus, realize where I’m at and who I’m playing for, and just lock in. I made a game-winning shot. I don’t think I’ll ever make that shot again in a million years,” she said. “Me hitting that shot, I mean, it was luck, but I think it was supposed to go that way. We worked our butts off tonight.”

Locke finished with 19 points, six rebounds, and four steals. Karlee Locke also had a strong performance, recording 14 points, 10 rebounds, four blocks, and one steal. The Locke sisters combined for a standout night, with additional scoring support from McKinzie, who added 13 points. The Threshers return home Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2025, at 6 p.m. to face the NO. 23 Friends University Falcons.

Throughout the first half, Bethel maintained control, forcing Hesston to play catch-up. By halftime, Bethel was up 48-37, having an 11-point lead. Over the past few games, Bethel has consistently shown that they perform stronger in the first half.

With the second half beginning, Bethel came out dominant, extending the lead to a 20-point difference within the first five minutes. The Threshers held this advantage for most of the second half until Hesston managed to bring the lead down to just above ten. Bethel regrouped, regained momentum, and closed out the game with confidence.

Bethel went on to win the game 92-81, maintaining the lead from start to finish. They also showed how many playmakers they have. Senior Albert Diarra led the way with 19 points, while freshman Rustan Griffen added an impressive 13 points of his own.

Coming off their previous win, Bethel presented a real challenge for Peru State. Peru started strong, getting a lead early in the game, and kept that lead for most of the first half. However, Bethel battled back, proving it would be no easy matchup. The Threshers closed the gap and ultimately took the lead by halftime, heading into the break up 33–24.

“I think throughout the season, we just have had a little bit too much inconsistency from night to night, even half to half.” Said head coach Jayson Artaz.

Bethel played well throughout the rest of the half, bringing their lead up to 18 points near the end of the game. Finishing strong with an 82-67 win, Bethel managed to bring back-to-back wins at the home tournament and claimed the first two home games of the season.

Bethel’s scoring leaders against Peru State were senior Carmelo Yakubu, who contributed 18 points and played strongly on both ends of the court, and Albert Diarra, who added 12 points in the game.

The Threshers will begin conference play on Saturday against the St. Mary Spires, a rematch of last spring’s Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference final. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.

St Mary would open by taking the first three points in the first set, but Bethel would even it up at 3-3. This looked to be a great game after both teams came out battling back and forth. The Threshers would go on to win the set 25-18, taking the lead 1-0. The start for set two would be similar for the Spires, who would jump to an early lead, forcing Bethel to fight. During the second set, there were seven lead changes and 12 times where the score was tied.

“It was exciting! Saint Mary’s put up a fight, but at the end of the day, everyone on our team stepped up in big ways at crucial times.” Said junior Dylan Cochran from Valley Center. “Our bench, especially, has been so huge for us the whole season. We are so lucky to have such supportive teammates. I think we easily have the best bench in the KCAC.”

St Mary would take a close, fought set 25-23, evening the score at 1-1. Set three would be similar to set two, and the Spires would also edge out Bethel 25-23, taking the lead in the match 2-1. Bethel had to win the last two sets to advance to the conference tournament semi-finals. The Threshers would jump out to a 13-2 lead in set four, forcing the Spires to use both timeouts. Bethel would take the set 25-14.

Going into set five, both teams would play lights out. Bethel would take the crucial set five by a score of 15-12, winning the match 3-2. Cameron Offerle ended the night with 13 kills, Cochran with two aces, Darla Crow with seven blocks, Dalaina Schutte with 41 assists, and Abby Koontz with 18 digs.

“I told the girls- we’re tested and have proven that we can handle adversity.” Said coach Adriana Leake. “We proved that not only can we handle the pressure, but we win those games.”

The Threshers advance to the semifinal, where they will take on the third-seeded Evangel Valor in McPherson at 4 p.m. on Friday. After a strong showing in the previous round, Bethel enters the matchup with confidence and hopes to secure a spot in the national tournament, continuing their impressive postseason run.

Thresher WBB started the tournament off against receiving votes (RV) Morningside University, who were 1-0 coming into the tournament. After the first quarter, Bethel seemed to have a hold on them, leading 29-23. The team looked great. Despite a great first quarter, the Threshers ultimately fell 88-67, with great effort from the whole team. Karlee Locke ended the game with 18 points, Kendall Locke and Madyson McKinze both with 14 points, and newcomer Emersyn Eischen with 12 of her own.

“Energy and effort was there in the first quarter. We started well, but we started making errors on the press. I think staying disciplined on defense is important. We got tired, and they used it against us. We just need to stay disciplined on defense and the press rush.” Said Junior point guard Kendall Locke from Azle, Texas.

The next day, Bethel faced Baker University, another solid team. Once again, Bethel looked phenomenal in the first quarter with the score of 24-12. They continued to battle, and it seemed Baker couldn’t find an answer for Bethel’s fastbreaks against the Locke sisters. The game ended with the score of 90-61. Kendall Locke with 21, Karlee Locke with 16, McKinzie with 16, and Elena Jugovic with 10.

“I think the way we run offensively is huge for our success and will continue to be. I’m also extremely pleased with our team defense this year, but our on-ball defense could get better. I think keeping the girls fresh somehow is going to be key against big teams like Morningside and Dakota State.” Said First-year Head Coach Jara Shoemaker. “Not only are we a huge transition team, but now we are trying to press and put a big emphasis on guarding. Our issue against both teams was being able to keep that intensity up in the second half.”

The Bethel women’s basketball team now has a quick turnaround as they will welcome the St. Mary Spires on Nov. 15th, with tip-off at 1:00 p.m. This will be their first conference game of the year.

The match would get started, and the Braves would take an 8-3 lead in the first, forcing Bethel to use a timeout. This helped the Threshers reset and bring the score to 12-11 in favor of Ottawa, and would force the Braves to use a timeout. Coming out of the timeout, Ottawa would take a commanding lead, taking the first set 25-19.

This would be the first set Bethel has lost at home since the game versus Oklahoma Wesleyan. The Threshers did not look to be bothered, staying composed. The team jumped out to an 8-2 lead in the second set, forcing the Braves into a timeout. The Threshers would cruise to a 25-12 set win, evening the match at 1-1.

“We are not a super emotional team. We know that there are ups and downs that come with a game, so spirits were fine,’’ said head coach Adriana Leake. “ I think everyone felt like we had control and would be able to recover.”

Set three was a crucial one, with six lead chances and several rallies. The Braves would lead Bethel 12-7. The Threshers would not back down and took a 20-14 lead, forcing Ottawa to take a timeout. The Braves stormed back, tying the game at 21-21. Being in a crucial part of the match with the score being 24-24, Bethel would rally and take the third set 26-24, going up 2-1.

“This team has been so special,” said Leake, “We’ve been facing adversity since day one. It forced me to trust my bench and our depth in ways that I’ve never had to before.”

After taking set three, Bethel would look to close out the day by winning the fourth set as well. During the fourth set, Bethel would lead the Braves 19-9. Ultimately, the Threshers took set number four by a score of 25-13, winning on Senior Day 3-1.

With the win, Bethel secures the No. 2 seed and looks to carry its momentum into the conference tournament, starting Tuesday against St. Mary’s Spires at 7:00 p.m. in Thresher Gym.

In the second quarter, Avila managed to put three points, but Bethel responded with another touchdown from Madison. With a solid lead at half, the Thresher showed how much they want to win and how they are gonna make that happen.

As the second half began, Bethel knew they needed to stay in control. Junior Xzavion Martin added another touchdown, though Avila responded soon after, making the score 28-10. The third quarter ended with Bethel still on top and the team playing as one.

Bethel entered the fourth quarter ready to finish strong, but got a quick reminder to stay focused as Avila scored early. Later in the quarter, Bethel responded with an impressive play from sophomore Jaxson Daniels, who powered forward with help from his teammates’ blocks. As the game came to an end and the win became clear, Avila showed good sportsmanship by playing until the final buzzer, adding one last touchdown for a final score of 35–25.

“The brotherhood really means a lot to them, and this is the last time 10 of these guys will ever get to play on this field, and they really wanted to give it their all for each other.” Said Coach Josh Lawson.

Coach Lawson mentioned how much the seniors wanted it, and it showed in the many big plays made by the seniors in this game. Larry Cherry had the most receiving yards in this game and is very consistent in his effort on the field. He had a couple of thoughts.

“It really starts with practice. I just come out here and I try my hardest. I give everything I got every day, and I don’t look back.” Larry Cherry

This mentality was shared by many players, and it showed on the field. It was a dominant win for Bethel in their final home game of the season. With a new head coach and several talented players returning next year, it will be exciting to see how the team performs moving forward.

Bethel took the first set 25-13, with few rallies, most of which were quickly ended by the Threshers strong offense. York tried to fight back and played scrappy, but they couldn’t seem to get the ball past Bethel’s solid defense.

The Threshers dominated the second set 25-11, impressing fans by holding York under 15 points in the first two sets. The third set ended 25-16, as Bethel completed the sweep in commanding fashion.

It seemed as though none of the Threshers could be stopped. Junior Cameron Offerle has been exceptional for the Threshers this season. This game was no different. She had 19 kills, 6 digs, and 2 blocks.

Also having a major impact on the game was. Junior middle blocker Darla Crow from Denton, Texas, had 9 kills and 7 blocks. Freshman setter Dalaina Schutte from Halstead included an impressive 40 assists.

“Our first touch, our serve receive was really good. We had all our options open in the front row, and they [York] couldn’t defend it.” Said junior Alayna Vines from Lawton, Okla.

With just a few games left in the regular season, the Bethel volleyball team is gearing up for a postseason filled with tough competition. The next time they are on the home court will be to celebrate the seniors on Nov. 8, at 3:00 p.m.

Not long after, Bethany scores another touchdown to make the score 12-0. Bethel knew that they had to stop them and put some points on the board. In the second quarter, Bethel’s defense stepped up and held Bethany from scoring any more points for the half. But the offense continued to struggle, not quite able to find its footing.

“Defensively, I think we played well enough to win. Special teams-wise, we can’t be giving up touchdowns on a punt, and offensively, we gotta go out there and score,” said head coach Josh Lawson.

Bethel’s offense was able to score in the third quarter; unfortunately, so did Bethany. The Swedes were now up 19 to 8 with the fourth quarter to go. Bethel couldn’t make the comeback when Bethany scored another touchdown. However, Bethel showed their strength in fighting to the last second when Larry Cherry made an 80-yard run for the final touchdown of the game.

With high hopes, Bethel couldn’t quite put another win up. You can’t fully blame the loss on the bad weather, but it certainly had an impact. Freshman quarterback Houston Herrin shared his thoughts after the game.

“Of course, you can say conditions played into it, but you can’t; the conditions were the same for them as they were for us. We just need to be more of a team and uplift each other, and when things don’t get to go that can’t reflect on us as a team,” said Herrin from Apache, Okla.

Herrin expressed his belief in the team and the strong connection they share. Even in defeat, he emphasized that they’re still a family. With better conditions expected on Saturday, Bethel will face Avila for senior night. On what should be an exciting Halloween matchup. With kick off scheduled for 1:00 P.M.

Saturday’s match was no different. Evangel University (26-3, 7-0) came in off an almost perfect season so far, but the Threshers, looking sharp in pink, were ready for another nail-biting game.

The first set was strikingly won by the Threshers, with rallies forcefully ended by star outside hitter Cameron Offerle. They took the set 25-18. The second set was nerve-racking, with back-to-back rallies forcing the girls into a deuce at 24-24.

“The main difference was the execution of the game plan. Everybody was doing their role and no one had an off night. It was easy to trust each other and get the job done in three sets,” said libero Abby Koontz of Newton when asked what helped the team secure the sweep.

The next two points would decide the set. Alayna Vines had an answer for both, ending the last two rallies with stuff-blocks to take the second set 26-24. While Evangel tried to find its footing, the Threshers had already found theirs two sets earlier, ending the third and final set 25-18 for a clean sweep.

“I was really uncertain going into the game. They have a great record but haven’t played a ton of very tough teams, so it was really hard to gauge what they would actually be like. They are definitely a great team, but I was really happy with how we executed the game plan and took care of business,” said head coach Adrianna Leake on Evangel’s record going into the game.

At the beginning of the season, BC seemed to struggle to finish a match in a clean sweep. Now, they appear to have a hold on sweeping solid opponents they might have gone four or five sets with before. Their next game will be at home Oct. 29 at 7 p.m.

The women’s side got the action kicked off as they looked to keep making a late run in the season to push them into the playoffs. The Lady Bulldogs controlled the first ten minutes of the game as they pressed forward. The Threshers were able to keep a strong presence defensively in the back line.

“I mean, our back line was phenomenal,” said head coach James Lipocky. “ That’s probably the best they’ve played the whole year, and that’s without her, which, again, is just amazing.” During the game on Saturday, Bethel would lose Yuly Torres due to an injury.

The Threshers started to have a feel for the game after holding down McPherson for the first 10 minutes. Bethel controlled the ball, looking to find the gaps down the wings. Freshman Melanie Torres had the first shot of the game for the Threshers in the 31st minute.

Seven minutes later, sophomore Madison Davis would cross the ball into the box, and Torres would flick it back to Sophomore Malayasia Larque, who found the back net for her fifth goal this season. This let Bethel take the lead going into halftime with a score of 1-0.

The Threshers looked to stay composed coming out in the second half and continue to dominate the Lady Bulldogs. McPherson would tie the game 14 minutes into the second half when they would have a shot from outside the box that would find the top corner.

“I think the game went really well, I’m happy with the team’s performance and hope to carry it out into Saturday’s game,” said Torres, from Puyallup, Wash.

Bethel stayed composed even after receiving the goal. Torres had her second assist of the game when she found freshman Aniaya Lugo, who would score with 11 minutes to go in the game. The Threshers would see out the rest of the match by maintaining possession and closing out the game with the final score of 2-1. This win helps Bethel stay alive in playoff contention, closing the gap by one point from a playoff seed.

The men’s game kicked off, and action was packed from the start as the Bulldogs looked to press high early on. This wouldn’t be a problem for Bethel, as they were able to keep possession of the ball. Inside the first ten minutes of the game, sophomore Aden Braggs was able to fire two shots.

After the first 10 minutes, McPherson settled in and kept the ball, trying to find danger. In the 11th minute, they were able to get a shot on target that was saved by senior goalkeeper Kazimir Kromwijk. The Bulldogs would go on to dominate the next 10 minutes of the game.

However, in the 20th minute, Braggs was able to find sophomore Gabriel Okita, who would put the Threshers up 1-0, making this his third goal of the year. Bethel would keep control after taking the lead. In the 31st minute, McPherson was able to tie the game at 1-1.

Going into halftime, the score would remain tied at one apiece. It would be a back-and-forth first half, as both teams were able to adapt quickly to the game styles and modify their schemes and tactics. Kromwijk ended the half with three saves.

The start of the second half had a fast start, as McPherson, in the first six minutes, was able to get a shot off that would be saved by Kromwijk. This would be a crucial save as Bethel would go on to score in transition from this save.

Okita was able to return the favor to Braggs, as he assisted him for his seventh goal of the year. This would put Bethel up 2 to 1. 15 minutes later, the Bulldogs would respond with a goal of their own to tie the score up 2-2.

“I’m disappointed that we weren’t able to get the victory,” said head coach Juan Zamora. “We must be able to punish and score, or else we can get punished as we did tonight.”

This would be a back-and-forth match-up up but neither team would be able to seek out the victory and would end in a tie. Both goalkeepers would come up big for the team, making crucial saves in the second half to keep their teams alive.

With both of these results, both teams seek to keep their playoff hopes alive in the final weeks. They will host the Friends University Falcons on Saturday. Kick-off is scheduled for 11 a.m. for the women’s with the men’s team to follow.

Shoemaker played for Barton Community College for two seasons before transferring to Division Two, Fort Hays State University, to complete her final two years. She spent 10 years working in health care before transitioning to coaching as an assistant at Life Prep Academy in Wichita.

The Threshers are looking to keep momentum after finishing in fourth place last year, ultimately falling to Friends University in the first round of the playoffs. Bethel ended the season with an overall record of 16-13 while going 15-7 in conference play.

“Caryn Yoder, who is a senior, was big for us last year; she is shooting the ball really well for us this year. I think she is going to be even bigger for us. She was a big on-ball defender, which is something that will continue,” said coach Shoemaker

This team is entering the season with added experience, featuring four seniors and six juniors. Some key returners include senior point guard Caryn Yoder from Hesston, junior Kendall Locke from Azle, Texas., and junior Madyson McKinzie from Dumas, Ark.

When discussing the newcomers, Coach Shoemaker highlighted freshman Emersyn Eischen and Grace William, as well as Tawny Rodriguez, a junior transfer from Eastern Wyoming College.

“We have to keep running, and it’s going to be hard to stop us in transition. That’s our biggest thing. We have to keep locking in on defense and press a little, and hopefully that does it for us,” said Shoemaker

The Threshers will aim to avoid a rough start to the season. Bethel’s first game of the season will be Oct. 31st in Salina, as they take on William Penn University. Last season, William Penn ended with an overall record of 4-24. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.

The Threshers started strong with 17 kills and only three hitting errors as a team in the first set, winning 25-8. Everyone in Thresher Gym was amazed. Fans couldn’t seem to believe the hammer Bethel put down on them.

Avila couldn’t shake off the loss from the first set, as the Threshers came out strong again with 16 kills and only two hitting errors, hitting .424 as a team. The second set ended 25-9 in Bethel’s favor. Leading the match two sets to none, the third set was filled with longer rallies, but the Threshers came out with the win, 25-17, finishing with a .323 team hitting percentage.

Bethel volleyball held Avila to an impressive .021 hitting percentage as a team, something that doesn’t happen often at the collegiate level.

“I feel like our defense just led to that because we were so efficient on defense and serving. We were able to do whatever we wanted offensively, which for us leads to lots of kills.” Said Abigail Koontz from Newton.

Junior standout Cameron Offerle delivered another stellar performance with 23 kills, 10 digs, 3 blocks, and 1 ace to lead her team to another clean sweep. It seems as though Offerle can’t be stopped. Dalaina Schutte contributed 27 assists and 7 kills, while Elena Vanderweg added 6 assists and 4 aces. Overall, it was a great team win for the Threshers.

“We held Avila to a low hitting percentage by being in the right spots on the court, staying disciplined, and trusting each other to complete our own roles. Just good team effort executed.” Said Head Coach Adrianna Leake.

Bethel volleyball is set to play on Wednesday night, against McPherson College in McPherson. McPherson is currently ranked No. 9 in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletes (NAIA). The Threshers will be gearing up for more tough competition ahead.

Bethel would look to control the game, creating various chances, finding Malaysia Larque, Taylor Andrew, and Beth Lloyd on top. The Threshers applied pressure from the beginning, forcing the Warriors’ goalkeeper to make saves early on.

“It felt good to get a win at home. Our team has been working for this; there is much more to accomplish, as this win has been long overdue for us,” said Larque, a sophomore from Wichita Falls, Texas.

Bethel got on the score sheet in the ninth minute of the match with a goal from Larque, assisted by Andrew. The Threshers shot seven more times before Sterling was able to capitalize in the 33rd minute of the match off a set piece, which would level the game and go into halftime tied.

In the first minute of the second half, Bethel established a rhythm as senior Lilli Reisser assisted freshman Aniaya Lugo for her first career goal. This would bring the score to 2-1.

‘I’m so excited that I’m on the score sheet. I was really happy to get my first collegiate goal at a home game; to me, it made it feel more special,” said Lugo, a freshman, from McKinney, Texas

Bethel would have 15 more shots but would not be able to convert. The game ended in a 2-1 win for the Threshers, making this their first win of the season and in conference play.

“We need to attack. We need to put more pressure on opposing teams,” said coach James Lipocky. “I’m happy to win a game, you know. Like I said, there were a couple of games that we should have won that we didn’t, so I’m happy.”

The men’s team was responsible for the later action, as they sought to earn their first conference win of the year. Before the game started, the men’s soccer team held a special tribute to Christian McCauley, a player from Oklahoma Wesleyan who passed away Sunday afternoon.

The Threshers would lay off the first couple of minutes, seeing what the Warriors would produce. Bethel then looked to turn up the pressure and keep the ball, trying to expose Sterling through the wide sides of the pitch.

The Thresher produced six shots in the first half, making the Warriors’ defense stay tight the whole match. Bethel would find the back of the net with three minutes remaining in the first half, as junior Joseph Armand won the header but was called back due to a foul. Both teams were tied at zero apiece going into halftime.

Things got rolling in the second half as Bethel looked to find a goal to keep the momentum going. However, Sterling started to attack more at the start of the second half, complicating things for the Threshers.

“It was great to win again, especially in front of our home fans,” said coach Juan Zamora. “We must be able to finish the ball and take our chance, and now we flip the page and focus on Southwestern.”

After a lot of back and forth action, the Threshers were able to find the back of the net with six minutes remaining in the game when junior Sief Ghodhbani lobbed a ball for freshman Branden Balvanz. He headed the ball to sophomore Aden Braggs, who was able to find the back of the net to make the game 1-0.

“It was great to finally win and score a goal at home. We have to take our chance and capitalize on them and score as many as we can,” said Braggs, from Dallas.

Up 1-0, Bethel had to close out the game with 10 men with five minutes remaining in the contest. The Threshers ended up taking the game, earning their first conference win of the year and second at home.

Both teams now carry momentum going into this weekend’s game for Fall Fest, when they host Southwestern College from Winfield. The women’s team is scheduled to kick off at 11 a.m., with the men’s game to follow right after.

“We watched film and took note of their tendencies. They have the No. 1 attacker in the country right now, so we knew we’d need to manage her,” said coach Adrianna Leake. “They’re a super well-balanced team with the top setter in the country too, so we did a lot of defensive prep to make sure we could slow their attack.”

OKWU took the first set 25-16 after a slow start for the Threshers. It seemed as though OKWU might take the next two sets to make a clean sweep. However, Bethel responded in the next set, winning by a close score of 26-24. With energy building in the gym, Bethel seemed to have momentum for the rest of the match.

OKWU came back firing and took the third set 25-14. The Threshers would respond by holding the Eagles in the fourth set 25-23. The match went to a decisive fifth set, where Bethel appeared calm and collected. The teams traded points with blocks, aces, digs, and powerful kills, bringing the score to 14-14. After a series of intense rallies, Oklahoma Wesleyan ultimately secured the win.

It was a disappointing loss, as the Threshers pushed a top-10 nationally ranked team to five sets. Outside hitter Cameron Offerle finished with 26 kills and 11 digs.

“During the game I was having so much fun. It was really exciting but also intense —just high energy throughout the whole game,” said Offerle, a junior from Spearville. “I think we’ll be great after this. It was a loss to our record, but we learned a lot of things, and we played really well, so it didn’t really feel that big of a loss.”

The Threshers are now 1-1 in conference play. Their next match is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 1, at Sterling College, with a 7 p.m. start time.

The second quarter was a quick start for Bethel College as freshman Houston Herrin was able to run it in to score for Bethel. With a change at the quarterback position nearing the end of the half, Coach Josh Lawson put in Herrin as quarterback, in hopes of a change in the game as well as to give him a shot at the position.

“We weren’t doing a very good job protecting the ball early on. So I said, hey, let’s give Houston a chance and see what he can do.” Said Lawson

Unfortunately, with the change in positions, Bethel didn’t manage to put any more points on the board for the rest of the game. The final score was 38-7. A change at quarterback can bring a lot of uncertainty, so Byron Reese from Miami Gardens, Fla., commented on his thoughts about the next game as the usual starter:

“We just have to work hard. And push ourselves and keep on grinding for next week.”

With Reese keeping composure and working hard. Houston Herrin, from Apache, Okla., was given a shot on the field that night. Herrin had some thoughts about his own performance after the game:

“It was great. I’ve been waiting to get into a game ever since I got here. There’s a lot to work with. I feel like we definitely started slow. But there were glimpses of really good stuff.”

Finally, Lawson shared what he was looking forward to working on and applying for the next

game. “The big thing we’ve got to do is continue to focus on the smaller things. The injuries don’t matter, and being young doesn’t matter. You know if you want to win, you’ve got to do the little things right.”

With a lot to work with this week, the game against the Spires will be something to watch. Bethel will play against the University of St. Mary, with kick-off slated for 1:00 p.m.

“I’m excited to play our first conference match at home. I know they’re a pretty decent team, but there’s no nervousness from us.” Said sophomore Elena Vanderweg, from Newton.

The Threshers struck first, with the first set ending 25-11, hitting .529 percent as a team. Bethel kept fans on their toes during the second set and ultimately won it with a score of 25–20. Putting the nail in the coffin, they ended the third set 25-17. Bethel volleyball achieved its first sweep of the conference, ending the match with a .299 hitting percentage as a team.

Outside hitter Cameron Offerle recorded 12 kills, 7 digs, and 1 ace. Landree Merriman and Langley Barger added 7 kills each. Middle blocker Darla Crow had 6 blocks, and Vanderweg contributed with 17 assists in her first varsity start of the season.

Head Coach Adrianna Leake seemed as excited about the sweep as the fans did:

“Sometimes a win can still not feel good whenever you don’t play well, but I felt like that win, we played well. We did our job. A lot of things that we’ve been working on, I saw that play out. We had been working on blocking, and our timing was awesome. Tough to beat whenever we have games like that.”

With a 1-0 conference record, Thresher volleyball continues to rise to the occasion. Next up on the schedule is the no. 9 Oklahoma Wesleyan at Thresher gym on Saturday, with the game starting at 3:00 p.m.