No. 11 Trojans Primed to Host Bethel in Crossroads League Semifinals

Volleyball | Tue, Nov. 8, 2022 at 12:05 PM
| by Jake Chipka

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UPLAND, Ind. –  After sweeping Grace in the Crossroads League Tournament Quarterfinals, No. 11 Taylor (28-5) is primed to host the fifth-seeded, Bethel Pilots (21-10), for a semifinal matchup inside Odle Arena on Wednesday, November 9, at 7:00 pm.

Taylor is riding the wave of a nine-match win streak, which ripples throughout a period of play in which the Trojans have won 19 of their last 21 matches. Inside Odle Arena, in particular, Taylor is 14-0 in 2022, which bolsters a perfect 23-0 record at home dating back to September 15, 2021.

Wednesday evening will settle the 2022 season-series between Taylor and Bethel, however, as the two teams split the regular-season with one win apiece.

Taylor won the first matchup on September 7, when the Trojans swept Bethel thanks in large part to eight team service aces, four of which came at the explosive left arm of Kacy Bragg. TU’s senior setter combined 33 assists with a team-high 11 digs and three blocks, alongside her quartet of aces.

Much of Bragg’s setting went in the direction of right-side hitter, Ryan Czerniak, who posted a match-high 12 kills against Bethel in tandem with a single error for a match hitting percentage of .407.

Bethel bounced back on October 1, however, when the Pilots beat Taylor in four sets and outkilled the Trojans 54-47. This time around, Bethel capitalized on a collection of service aces, as the Pilots posted 10 throughout the four-set match.

Isabelle North-Greene led the way for Bethel on offense with 12 kills, struck at a hitting-percentage clip of .611, while setter, Madyson Beaver, combined 23 assists with 11 kills en route to Bethel’s win over Taylor.

In this way, the stage is set for Taylor and Bethel to settle the score in the Crossroads League Tournament Semifinals, slated to commence inside Odle Arena on Wednesday, November 9, at 7:00 pm.

General admission tickets are available for purchase online at taylortrojans.com/tickets, with the general admission fee set at $8 per person. Tickets will also be available at the door for seniors at a price of $5 per ticket, while Taylor students have the opportunity to attend for free.

The winner of Wednesday’s semifinal matchup will then move on to the Crossroads League Tournament Championship, scheduled for Saturday, November…