For the first time since 2020, the Bethel College volleyball team took down the Oklahoma Wesleyan Eagles, ending a six-year drought against their conference rival. The win was a gritty five-set thriller, with the Threshers dropping the first two sets, 22-25 and 19-25, before rallying to win the final three.
The team traveled to Oklahoma Wesleyan University (OKWU) on Sept. 26 and ended up reverse-sweeping the Eagles, winning the last three sets to take the match. The turning point came as the Threshers settled into their game and began to play with more confidence. Head coach Brittany VanRoyen said the team was initially playing too cautiously but found a different rhythm in the final three sets.
“I think we found our confidence in those last three sets,” VanRoyen said. “We were playing timid and trying too hard to make things perfect in the first two, rather than just playing freely and having fun.”
Bethel’s newfound confidence showed in the third set, when the Threshers overcame an 18-17 deficit before closing out the set 25-23. The team continued to battle through another close fourth set, taking a 21-20 lead after the score was tied at 20.
VanRoyen credited the Threshers’
passing and defense as key factors in the comeback. Bethel finished with 78 digs and ten blocks while also recording a season-high 62 kills.
The offensive production was spread across the lineup, with four Threshers reaching double digits in kills. Dylan Cochran finished with 16 kills, Cameron Offerle added 15, Mari Phillips recorded 14 and Alayna Vines contributed 12. The balanced attack gave Bethel multiple options at the net and helped the Threshers maintain pressure.
Dalaina Schutte played a key role in keeping that offense moving, recording a season-high 49 assists while adding 13 digs.
VanRoyen said the comeback showed what the team is capable of when faced with adversity. “It shows that we should never be counted out of a game by an opponent or ourselves,” VanRoyen said.