Bethel College volleyball earned a 3-0 sweep over Southwestern College, winning 25-16, 25-10, and 25-12. Strong serving, consistent defense, and an efficient offense helped the Threshers control the match, while the bench brought energy and encouragement throughout.
Bethel finished with 46 kills and a .278 hitting percentage while holding Southwestern to 15 kills and a negative .038 hitting percentage.
Setter Dalaina Schutte of Halstead says the bench plays an important role in the team’s success, even if its contributions do not appear in the statistics.
“One thing the stats will never show is how supportive and hard-working our bench is,” Schutte said. “If there were stats for a bench, ours would be All-American!”
The bench keeps the energy high with cheers, encouragement, and player-specific chants. With cheers for nearly every player, teammates celebrate individual contributions and help create a fun atmosphere throughout the match.
That energy carries onto the court as Bethel takes the first set 25-16. The Threshers held a 14-7 advantage in kills, with Cameron Offerle of Spearville recording five and Dylan Cochran of Valley Center adding four. After Southwestern closed the gap to 19-16, Bethel finished the set with six consecutive points.
The Threshers continued their momentum in the second set, building a 9-0 run to extend their lead from 13-8 to 22-8. Cochran served eight consecutive points, including two aces, as Bethel won 25-10.
Schutte helped guide the offense by reading the opposing defense and distributing the ball among Bethel’s hitters.
“As a setter, I’m always reading the opposing team’s block and how they are responding to each hitter,” Schutte said. “It’s also important to feed the hot hand, and with a game like Southwestern, all our offensive options were open, and everyone was killing it.”
Bethel closed the match with a 25-12 third-set victory, recording 19 kills while limiting Southwestern to three. Offerle led the team with 12 kills and 10 digs, while Cochran added 11 kills and 12 digs. Alayna Vines of Lawton, Okla., recorded 10 kills on a .400 hitting percentage and a team-high of six total blocks. Schutte finished with 38 assists, and Abby Koontz of Newton led the defense with 16 digs.
The sweep highlights Bethel’s offensive and defensive strengths, while the bench’s cheers and support reinforce the importance of every teammate in the team’s success. The Threshers will be home, celebrating their seniors on Oct. 31, 2026, at 11 a.m. against Saint Mary University.