After the opening game last Thursday night, the Bethel volleyball team has all the momentum, and was focused on winning their first game of the season.
But as Tri-Village turned things around, the Lady Bees (0-3, 0-1) watched as their visitors took the next three games, en route to a 18-25, 25-21, 25-12, 25-16 win over Bethel, in the opening game of  Cross County Conference league play.

“We started strong tonight, passed the ball excellent, and served tough,” said Bethel coach Robert Gatrell.  “We had the confidence.  Then we got a little behind.  This group needs to learn how to win again here at Bethel.”
The first game was close at the start, with the game tied at 3-3.  Tri-Village then took control of the game momentarily, as freshman Crystal Falknor scored three consecutive points, capped by a Kayla Linkous kill, and the Lady Pats led 6-3.
The two teams battled until Shaye Thomas scored for Tri-Village to make it 10-6 before the Lady Bees turned up the heat.
A kill from Mercedes Nelson started it for Bethel, as she scored the next four points, which also included a kill from Taylor Wood, and a block by Shelby McMahan.  Bethel had taken the lead 11-10.
After Linkous recorded another kill for the Lady Pats, Bethel put together another string of points, as McMahan served the next four.  Bethel led 16-12, and made it 21-12 as Wood scored the next four, including a pair of aces.
Tri-Village made a slight comeback attempt, but Nelson’s kill wrapped up the opening game for the Lady Bees.
Falknor served the Lady Patriots to a 10-4 lead in game two before the Lady Bees started their comeback.  A kill for Nelson started a four point run for Sierra Pytel, closing the Lady Bees deficit to one point, and later another run by McMahan tied the game at 17-17.
An ace by Kallie Landes gave Bethel one last hope trailing 21-20, but the Pats put the game away to win game two.
“We need to learn how to get over the 5-6 point losses,” Gatrell said.  “It is tough for them, having to get used to a totally different coaching philosophy.”
Bethel had the third game tied at 5-5 before Tri-Village pulled away, taking an 18-7 lead at one point.  Falknor and Thomas had big runs for the Lady Pats.
In game four, again the Lady Bees battled early, as McMahan scored three consecutive points to give Bethel a quick 4-0 lead.  Tri-Village then went on a 15-4 run to take the lead. 
Even with the loss, Gatrell found some positives to work from.
“They really worked hard, and their serve receive and transition into the defensive mode was better than ever,” he said.