LIVONIA, Mich. – Three times since 1990 the 20th-ranked Madonna University volleyball program has dropped its season opener. If it weren't for some timely kills, 2018 would have been number four. As it were, the Bethel College Pilots tested the Crusaders like only two other programs have in the program's 32-year history. The Blue and Gold ultimately came out victorious in five sets, 25-19, 25-18, 24-26, 25-27, 16-14.

FINAL: No. 20 Madonna (1-0) 3, Bethel (0-1) 2 (25-19, 25-18, 24-26, 25-27, 16-14)

• Set one
  • The Pilots were able to jump ahead 8-5 early in the first set before Jodie Kelly took over. The sophomore outside hitter collected her third kill to cut the deficit to one and then served three straight points, which included kills from Taylor Suurmeyer and Nyla Greer, to put the Blue and Gold in front. It was part of a 9-2 run for the Crusaders.
  • Up 15-10, MU cruised from there and won four of the final five points with Erica LaBaere, a junior transfer, sealing the set one win.
• Set Two
  • Freshman Olivia Sweeney was the catalyst in set two as she stepped to the service line tied at 3 and served the next seven points, with an ace and two kills from Kelly, to make it 10-3 MU. That was all the home team needed to put away the Mishawaka, Indiana program as LaBaere and Lauren Korth sealed the 25-18 win with a pair of kills.
• Set Three
  • The Pilots led early in the third, but MU battled back and won 7-of-9 points to break a 12-12 tie and go up 19-14. But, after seeing the lead cut the five, 22-17, the young Crusaders saw the visitors score nine of the final 11 points for the 26-24 win.
• Set Four
  • MU opened the fourth set on a 4-2 run, but nine of the next 12 points flew the Pilots way as the visitors led 11-7. After inching closer and closer, Kelly stepped to the service line down 22-18 and scored four straight points to tie the score. The Crusaders answered a Bethel point with two of their own and had match point, but BC scored four of the final five points to force a decisive fifth set.
• Set Five
  • A LaBaere, Suurmeyer block followed by a Suurmeyer kill highlighted a 3-0 run to begin the final set, but Bethel scored 7-of-8 to take a three point lead. Six of the next eight went the way of the home team who went up one, 10-9. The Pilots went back in front with 4-of-5 points before the Crusaders rallied for the win with five of the final six points, capped by back-to-back kills from LaBaere and Suurmeyer.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Madonna out hit Bethel .261 to .234 with a match-high .486 (19-2-35) in the second set
• Suurmeyer tallied a career-best 23 kills and 54 attacks, her previous highs were 11 and 31, respectively
• LaBaere and Kelly each finished with 15 kills while Greer added 14 and a team-best .458 attack percentage
• Korth finished with 62 of MU's 71 assists with six kills and seven digs
• Alyssa Facione paced the defense with 22 digs while LaBaere led the way at the net with five blocks (2 solo, 3 assists)
• MU is now 3-0 in five-set season openers with the other two coming in 1991 (v Azusa Pacific - 15-10, 15-4, 11-15, 6-15, 15-9) and 1996 (v Seattle Pacific - 15-11, 15-7, 15-17, 11-15, 15-4)

MILESTONES TO WATCH

• Head Coach Jerry Abraham continues his pursuit of 1,200 career wins and needs just 19 more.
• Korth is currently ninth on the all-time assists list with 3,299 in her career

GRAPHICS GALORE















UP NEXT

• The Crusaders return to the court next weekend as they take part in the UM-Dearborn Early Bird Classic at the UM-Dearborn Fieldhouse in Dearborn, Michigan Aug. 24-25. MU opens the event at 3 p.m. on Friday against Spring Arbor before facing Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio) at 7 p.m. Saturday MU faces Goshen at 10 a.m. and Point Park (Pa.) at 12 p.m.
• Tournament information, which includes ticket prices and directions, can be found here.
• Live coverage is available via the Madonna Athletics Network at madonnacrusaders.com/live.

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