WAVERLY, Iowa – The Wartburg College volleyball team (14-8 overall) mounted a strong comeback effort but ultimately fell short in a five-set battle against Bethel University (10-8 overall) on Pink Out Knight inside Levick Arena. 

The Royals took the opening two sets before the Knights rallied to claim sets three and four. In a tightly contested fifth, Wartburg's late surge wasn't enough, falling 17-15. The match featured 28 ties and 13 lead changes. 

Anna Sash led the Knights with 16 kills on an efficient .464 hitting percentage, followed by Kaylee Koudelka with 15 and Whitney Klyn with 11. As a team, Wartburg hit .167. Sophie Sedgwick tallied a season-high 34 assists, while Peyton Robinson anchored the defense with 25 digs and tied her career high with five service aces. 

Wartburg opened the first set with a burst, forcing an early Bethel timeout and jumping ahead 10-3. The Royals responded, tying the set at 17 and again at 22 before closing on a 3-1 run to take the opener, 25-23. 

The Knights again started strong in set two, scoring the first four points. However, Bethel chipped away and took control midway through, using a five-point run to secure a 25-18 win and a 2-0 match lead. 

Set three remained tight throughout, with neither team gaining more than a two-point advantage until the final stretch. Wartburg capitalized on key plays late to earn a 25-23 win and extend the match. 

The Knights carried that momentum into set four, dominating 25-18 behind a .265 hitting percentage while limiting Bethel to .135. Wartburg also held a 13-10 advantage in kills and recorded three service aces in the frame to force a decisive fifth set. 

In the final set, Wartburg fought back from behind and tied the score at 15 following Sash's final kill of the night. However, back-to-back attack errors sealed the 17-15 win for Bethel. 
 
NOTES 
The Knights out-killed the Royals, 61-to-57, which sets a new season-high...Both teams equally dished out 52 assists...The Knights out-killed the Royals in the final three sets...Wartburg served up 11 aces to Bethel's nine...The Knights tallied 79 digs to the Royals' 75...Wartburg leads the all-time series 16-14...Bethel has won three of the last five matchups... 

UP NEXT 
Wartburg travels to Lincoln, Neb., to take on Nebraska Wesleyan (14-7, 2-3 A-R-C) at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25. The Prairie Wolves are coming off a three-set sweep of Doane University.