Trojans Sweep RV Bethel in Crossroads League-Opener

Volleyball | Wed, Sep. 7, 2022 at 9:50 PM
| by Jake Chipka

UPLAND, Ind. – The No. 18 Taylor volleyball team (9-2, 1-0 CL) opened its conference season against RV Bethel (5-4, 0-1 CL) on Wednesday evening, a match in which the Trojans flexed their depth and cruised to a three-set sweep over the Pilots.

The Trojan production was scattered across the board, as three Trojans struck six kills-or-more while a trio of Trojans posted three-or-more blocks and five Trojans recorded five-or-more digs.

Senior right-side hitter, Ryan Czerniak, led the charge with 12 kills while maintaining a hitting-percentage of .407. Meanwhile, Anna Frey contributed nine kills herself, alongside six more hit contributed by Arlanda Faulkner.

On the defensive end, Grace Ieremia sent back six blocks, while Czerniak and senior setter, Kacy Bragg, combined for seven more. When the ball made it over the net, the Trojan lineup handled the Pilot attack with relative ease, with Bragg and Frey accumulating 11 and eight digs, respectively, and Nikki Parrett, McKaylah Flagle, and Karli Ware combining for 17 more off the bench.

Service aces also played a significant role in Taylor’s three-set winner over Bethel, as the Trojans posted eight team aces with Bragg leading the way with four.

Taylor capitalized on an errant Pilot attack in the opening set, winning the first period 25-18 while Bethel accumulated more errors than kills. The Trojan offensive attack, then, came alive in the second set, as Taylor posted a potent team hitting-percentage of .500 en route to a 25-16 set-win, riding the waves of a 9-2 run to finish the set.

Despite eight team errors, Taylor managed to secure the three-set sweep thanks in large part to four Kacy Bragg service aces exercised throughout the third-and-final match set.

No. 18 Taylor (9-2, 1-0 CL) will be back in action this Friday, September 9th, when the Trojans travel to La Crosse, Wisconsin, to participate in the Viterbo Tournament. Taylor’s opening match will take place against tourney host, No. 9 Viterbo (7-4), at 3:00 pm ET.