Box Score McKENZIE, Tenn. -  After two close sets, the Mississippi University for Women's volleyball team eventually fell to host Bethel University, 3-0. The Owls (0-4) lost to the Wildcats (5-1) by set scores of 23-25, 17-25, 12-25.
 
The game marked the fourth time – in as many matches in 2021 – that The W has faced a team which was either unbeaten or had just one loss.
 
Maggie Griggs topped the Owls with six kills. Griggs also sported a team-leading .333 attack average, making one error in 15 attack attempts.
 
Hannah Duran put up all-around good numbers. Duran had five kills, six assists and six digs. Micaela Hudgins added four kills.
 
The Wildcats' Hannah McGowan led all attackers with 15 kills.
 
Llayne Skinner served up three of The W's five aces as a team. Madison Suggs' 12 digs led the defensive efforts by the Owls.
 
Camryn Johnson's 10 assists led the Owls in helps.
 
In set one, down 9-10, Duran served up six-consecutive winners as The W forged a 15-10 lead. That forced a timeout by the Wildcats, followed by five unanswered Bethel points to knot matters at 15-15. Down 18-17 to The W, BU reeled off four winners and then closed out the Owls.
 
In set two, Duran again went on a serve spree giving the Owls a 4-0 lead. After the Wildcats came back, The W was within a manageable deficit, 17-21, before BU closed matters with four unanswered points.
 
"The ladies played hard against a solid team," The W Head Coach Halee Hensley said. "We did everything we could but sadly came up short."
 
In the junior varsity preliminary game, The W ladies lost by a 2-1 score.
 
MUW will next be in action on Tuesday (Sept. 14/6 p.m.) for the team's home opener versus Huntingdon College.