Lyon drops first match of the season

Lyon Athletics
Matthew Jagodzinski

BATESVILLE – The Lyon College volleyball team looked to keep its undefeated record intact as they faced a quality opponent in Bethel (Tenn.) on Tuesday night. The Scots hung tough with the Wildcats but suffered their first loss of the season, 3-0 (18-25, 21-25, 18-25).

Bethel improved to 4-1 with the win, while the Scots fell to 4-1.

With the score tied at 8-8 in the first set, Bethel began to gain some separation as the Wildcats took a 20-14 lead over the Scots. Paeton Tucker and Isabella Beasley collected a kill each late in the set for the Scots, but the Wildcats took game one, 25-18.

Neither side could gain an advantage over the other in the second set as the score remained within a point until a kill by Dominika Skoneczna gave the Wildcats a 17-15 lead. A kill by Samantha Ferguson pulled the Scots back within a point, 19-18, shortly after, but Bethel closed out the set on a 6-3 run and took game two, 25-21.

A 9-2 run by Bethel in the third set proved to be the difference in the game as the Wildcats found themselves ahead, 18-11. The Scots cut the deficit to five late in the set after a pair of errors by Bethel and a kill by Layne Smith, but a pair of kills by the Wildcats gave the visitors the three-set victory.

Natalia Szymanska led Lyon offensively with seven kills, while Adia Sherbeyn highlighted the Scots defensively with a team-high 10 digs. Layla Wilson dished out a team-high 13 assists.

The Scots will return to action this weekend as they will host the Highlander Invitational on Friday and Saturday. The Scots will open up their two-day invitational on Friday at 2 p.m. against Centenary College.