Hastings Knocks off Bethel
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Bethel (KS) (3-2, 0-0) | 25 | 16 | 16 | 20 | 1 |
|
Hastings (2-1, 0-0) | 20 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
(Hastings, Nebraska) - After going 1-1 in their first games of the season in Seward, Hastings won 3-1 (20-25, 25-16, 25-16, 25-20) in the opening game of the Hastings College Classic against the Bethel Threshers.
In the first set, Hastings and Bethel played a pretty even opening period as they were tied late at 17-all. Ultimately, the Threshers went on a 8-3 run to pull away late, winning 25-20.
The Broncos started hot in the second set and didn't look back. They grabbed a 6-3 lead that ballooned to 20-11, prompting a timeout from the Threshers. Led by four kills from junior Kaitlin Thiebauth and three from senior Majesta Velasek, Hastings took the second set 25-16. Junior Alexis Pontine had an impressive 14 assists in the second set alone.
Hastings briefly lost the momentum in the third set, falling behind 9-8 before winning 10 of the next 13 points to take a 18-12 lead. They would then cruise to another 25-16 set win to lead two sets to one. Freshman Makenna Sutter led the way with five kills in the set to go along with five digs from senior Miriam Miller and nine assists from Pontine in the third set.
A 10-2 lead for Hastings made it appear that Hastings would cruise to a four-set win, but Bethel rattled off nine of the next 12 points to only trail 13-11, causing a Bronco timeout. Hastings would break the Thresher run and fight through the adversity to take the fourth set 25-20 and the match 3-1.
Valasek and Sutter led the way in kills with 12 and 11, respectively. Pontine had 31 assists and Miller had 26 digs to carry the Broncos to the 3-1 win.
Hastings will next play Central Christian College at 6pm in Lynn Farrell Arena later today at 6pm.
