Returning home to Hahn Gymnasium, the Bethany College volleyball team looked to snap their four-game losing streak. The squad started the second half of their KCAC schedule, hosting the University of St. Mary Monday night in hopes of getting back on track in their conference play.

Bethany found themselves down late in game one, but was able to narrow the gap. However, the Spires were able to close out the game, winning 25-23. The Swedes would find a spark and win the next three 25-12, 25-21, 25-22, defeating St. Mary for the second time in the 2009 campaign and coming up with their first win in nearly two weeks.

Junior April Roble led the Bethany offense with 12 kills, followed by senior Kristi Parker with seven. Senior Megan Wendell and freshman Theresa Read each had 13 assists on the night while senior Katy Troutman tallied four aces. Troutman chalked up 18 digs as freshman Samantha Andersen added 12 and Wendell contributed ten. Parker totaled six assisted blocks, and Roble had three assisted while Andersen and sophomore Catherine Spicer both tacked on two assisted.

The Swedes again stayed at home and went head-to-head with Sterling College Wednesday evening. Bethany could not seem to hang on to a lead as they were swept by the Warriors, 25-19, 25-23, 25-20. Roble and Andersen each had eight kills, followed by Parker with seven. Roble chalked up 12 digs, followed by Troutman with 11. Wendell totaled 16 assists while Read added eight. Andersen had two solo blocks in addition to two assisted blocks while Parker and freshman Shelby Broeckelman each added two assisted blocks.

"We were disappointed with the loss," said head coach Nathalea Stephenson. "I felt like we could have beat Sterling."

Bethany topped off the week by hosting cross-town rival Kansas Wesleyan University Saturday afternoon. The Swedes held the Coyotes winless in their 2009 campaign, sweeping Kansas Wesleyan 25-19, 25-18, 25-20.

"Even though Kansas Wesleyan has not won any matches, we played hard and did good things," Stephenson said.

Andersen led with 10 kills, followed by Roble and senior Carrie DeRoo with seven. Parker and senior Serah Pele-Lafo each added six kills. Read tallied 19 assists and Wendell contributed 17. Andersen had 12 digs as Troutman tacked on ten. Wendell, DeRoo, and Parker made their presence known at the net, each totaling three assisted blocks.

Bethany finished off the day with a match against Avila. "We really stepped up, focused, and worked hard," said Stephenson. "They are a different style of team. They don't swing fast, so our blockers had to adjust. They didn't adjust at first, but did later. Their setter likes to dump the ball over the net, and we struggled the first two or three games, but then started picking things up."

The Swedes jumped out to an early lead after winning game one 25-21, but Avila answered back with a 25-23 win in game two. Bethany showed their resilient side, getting a commanding game three win 25-16. Avila again bounced back with a 25-17 win. However, the Swedes would get the last word, winning game five and the match 15-16.

"We have lost three matches this season after being in command in game five," Stephenson said. "But we jumped out ahead and took control, and didn't look back, so that was a good win for us."

Wendell and Parker each led the offense with 12 kills while Roble tacked on ten. Read and Wendell both had 21 assists in the contest. Troutman totaled 14 digs as Read added ten. DeRoo and Parker both had five assisted blocks on top of Andersen and Wendell's three assisted blocks.

The Swedes are now 5-7 in the KCAC, currently in sixth place, and 8-19 overall. They hit the road and head to Southwestern College on Tuesday, October 22 and McPherson College on Thursday, October 24. Both matches are slated for 7 p.m. start times.

"Southwestern will be tough, as their record doesn't show the good team that they are," said Stephenson. "We beat them earlier in the year, so I am sure they are looking to return the favor. McPherson was one of the matches where we were up in game five, but didn't take care of what we needed to do. So we need to go in and get that win back."