MISHAWAKA, Ind. — The Adrian College men's volleyball team lost to Bethel 3-1 Thursday evening. Chase Heuer led the Bulldogs tonight with a team high 14 kills in the loss.
How It Happened
On Thursday evening, the Bulldogs saw the Pilots start the evening with a 6-2 lead in the first set. However, the Adrian College deficit was quickly diminished, as the men's volleyball team would create a 14-8 advantage for themselves to take a 16-14 lead midway through the first. During the run, Bulldogs Andrew Gawrisch, Beck Fieldhouse, Carson Bell, and Zach Molnar registered kills while Branden Gula recorded two service aces. The men's volleyball team would tie the game up at 21 all after a kill by Fieldhouse. The Bulldogs forced a Bethel time out after a kill by Heuer and a service ace by Fieldhouse to tie the set at 24 apiece. However, the Pilots were able to win set one after the officials awarded Bethel a 26th point in a 50/50 play.
To open up the second set, the Bulldogs created their greatest lead in both the second and first sets after five straight points. After starting the second tied at 3-3, the men's volleyball team shot off to a quick 5-0 run, which was concluded by a kill from Gawrisch to put Adrian College up 8-3. The Bulldogs were able to maintain their lead over the Pilots for the majority of the set, until Bethel stormed back to take a 25-24 lead after an extended 21-15 run. After back to back kills by Molnar from an assisting Gawrisch, the Bulldogs tied the set up at 26 all and would take a 27-26 lead after a kill from Fieldhouse. Despite gaining the late lead, Bethel would outscore the Bulldogs 4-1 and the men's volleyball team would lose a close second set 30-28.
The third set was an all out battle for the Bulldogs. During the first half of the set, the men's volleyball team found themselves up early at 9-6 after a bad set by the Pilots. Over the next few minutes, Bethel was starting to build momentum and even cut the Bulldog's lead to one at 15-14. The men's volleyball team quickly built some breathing room from the Pilots and recorded a swift 5-2 run to lead by a thin margin of 18-15. The Bulldogs would ride their wave of momentum and forced a Bethel timeout after creating a 5-3 advantage to put Adrian College ahead 23-18. After Fieldhouse and Heuer recorded kills, the men's volleyball team would end the set with a 25-20 victory.
The fourth set's intensity picked up right where the third set left off. During the first third of the set, neither team gained a sizable advantage as both team's greatest lead was one. After Bethel gained a 11-10 lead, they would score five straight points against the Bulldogs to take a 16-11 advantage. After capitalizing on an attack and a service error, the Bulldogs would continue to cut into their deficit. With two kills by Heuer, and a kill by Molnar the men's volleyball team would find themselves down 21-17 late in the fourth. The Bulldog's would continue to fight: After capitalizing on a Bethel service error and a kill by Molnar, the men's volleyball team would trail 23-19. Despite capitalizing on two attacking errors, the Bulldogs could not complete the set with a victory and would ultimately drop the fourth with a 25-21 defeat.
Top Dawgs
Heuer led the Bulldog's with 14 kills, while Gula had a match high five aces.
Up Next
The Bulldogs will return to Merillat Sport and Fitness Center to host two games on Saturday, March 11. The men's volleyball team will face Maranatha Baptist University at 10:00 AM for game one and will follow with a match against Hiram College at 3:00 PM in game two.
