Mankato, Minn. – The Crown volleyball team nearly took the first set from Bethany Lutheran on Saturday, extending the set past the normal 25 points needed to win, but ultimately coming up short in a 3-0 loss.
The Storm took a 5-1 lead in set one before the Vikings tied things at 5-5 with a 4-0 run. The opening set then went back and forth with each team scoring in bursts before the host Vikings jumped ahead 16-12 with another 4-0 run. At 19-15 in favor of the Vikings, Crown ripped off six straight points, highlighted by a very balanced attack with all six points coming from different sources.
Neither team could fully take control from that point on with the Vikings eventually earning a set point opportunity at 24-23.
After a Crown timeout, the Storm tied things at 24 all, and then again at 25 apiece, before the Vikings eventually surged to the 27-25 first set win.
Crown couldn't keep things going in the second and third sets as BLC jumped out 9-2 in the second set en route to a 25-18 win and then 16-2 in set three, eventually winning the set and the match with a 25-6 score.
Gracie Zieroth had 15 digs in an excellent defensive effort and was joined in double figures by
Sage Johnston with ten digs. Talan Rudzitis led the squad in both assists (12) and kills (6).
Crown heads back out on the road next Tuesday for another UMAC matchup with Minnesota Morris.
