BETHANY— For the third time in four days, Bethany’s volleyball squad downed Tuttle, this time, 3-1 on Tuesday (Aug. 19) in their home opener.

Like in the final of the Rumble at Route 66 Saturday, the Bronchos had to survive an early deficit to Tuttle, dropping the first set.

Bethany leapt out to an 11-5 lead, but that lead evaporated after the timeout with a five-point run by the Tigers. After a Bethany a timeout, leading 11-10, the set went back and forth until the Bronchos led, 24-23.

After another Tuttle timeout, the Tigers won the last three points to take the set, 26-24.

The Bronchos put a little distance between them and Tuttle in the second set, building a double-digit lead. The set was delayed for several minutes several times due to the officials having a discussion about Tuttle’s rotations at the scoring table.

Bethany led most of the set and won, 25-12 to tie the match at 1-1.

Tuttle led for a lot of set three but the Bronchos stayed close. The Tigers’ largest lead was 12-8. Bethany roared back for a 25-18 win to make it 2-1.

The Bronchos led for the entire time in the fourth set, but Tuttle stayed close until an eight-point run ballooned the lead to 24-13. Bethany sealed the deal with a 25-16 win to capture the match, 3-1.

“I’m frustrated,” Bethany coach Kerri Cagle said. “But, I am proud of the girls for coming back (after losing the first set).

“Tuttle’s a good team. They’re competitive and they came ready to play,” Cagle continued. “We won, but it wasn’t pretty.”

Cagle said it was a challenge to beat a team three times in a short span. She recognized the familiar position of losing the first set like in the championship game in Verdigris.

“We had to come in and just kind of focus in, lock in and play our game, not let their pace and game get to us,” Cagle said.

Senior Skylar Brady had 22 kills and two aces. Fellow senior Callie Gulikers added six digs. Junior Gracee Geissler had seven digs.
Junior Keyaira Ohern had four blocks and 13 kills.

The Tigers have the only two set wins over the Bronchos, who improved to 12-0 this season and haven’t lost a match since Oct. 4, 2024. But, the Bethany coach welcomed the tough contests

“We need games like this and I think any coach and team would agree,” Cagle said. “
If you’re just out there easily winning all the time and you never have to compete, you never have to fight. You never have to go through the struggles, then you’re not like preparing yourself for when those times do come.”

UP NEXT

Bethany travels to North Rock Creek (1-1) Thursday (Aug. 21) at 6 p.m.