Positive Momentum Stalls in Loss at Bethel

MISHAWAKA, Ind. – The Taylor volleyball team had momentum on its side in the middle portions of a match at Bethel (14-8, 4-5 CL) Wednesday evening, but it could not hang on in a tough four-set loss.

The score was tied 14 rallies into the opening set before the Pilots used three separate scoring runs of three or more points to claim the advantage with a 25-20 win.

TU then came out hot in the second set, as Ava Kraft and Reagan Kleiman were the driving forces of a 12-4 lead. Bethel made things interesting midway through the frame, but Grace Ieremia accounted for five kills in the set's final 10 rallies as the Trojans evened the match in dominant, 25-15 fashion.

Taylor overcame a small deficit early in set number three and used 15 kills in the frame to grab the momentum with a 24-19 advantage. A 7-0 run from the hosts turned the tide of the match, though, as BU took the final two sets, 26-24 and 25-17.

Ieremia recorded a match-high 15 kills on a .400 hitting percentage and had three blocks. Kraft and Kleiman joined the senior in double figures with 12 and 11 kills, respectively.

Lindsay Springer led all players with 48 assists while chipping in three service aces and seven digs.

From the back row, McKaylah Flagle helped TU to a 57-42 advantage in digs with 17, and Abi Powers notched two of the Trojans' seven service aces.

Halfway through the Crossroads League schedule, Taylor (7-14, 2-7 CL) next plays on the road on Wednesday, Oct. 9, versus Goshen (6-19, 1-8) at 7 p.m.