ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – The Nebraska Wesleyan volleyball team got the 2016 season off to a good start on day one of the Bethel Invitational held in Arden Hills, Minn.  NWU won the opening match, 3-0, over Willamette, then dropped the second match of the day 3-1 to 12^th-ranked Bethel University to finish 1-1 on day one.

NWU will have two more matches on Saturday (Sept. 3) as they face Wheaton at 10 am and Wisconsin-Superior at 12 pm.
Nebraska Wesleyan was impressive in the opening match of the year winning in straight sets over Willamette.  NWU won in scores of 25-18, 25-14, 26-24.

The Prairie Wolves pounded out 47 kills as a team, hitting .252 with three players reaching double digits in kills.  Senior Malory Dahl got her final season off to a terrific start as she led the way with 15 kills and two blocks.  Karrie Sestak had 10 kills and just one error to hit .474, while Kierra Harder had 10 kills and an error for a .391 swing percentage.  Sestak had a team-high four blocks.

Returning starter Kennedy Hegert had 24 digs from her libero position to lead the team on defense.  True freshman Taylor Crandall made a fabulous debut with 40 assists, six service aces and eight digs in her first collegiate match.
Willamette had only 28 kills and a .093 hitting percentage, including a negative percentage in set two.

The second match of the night proved to be much more difficult as NWU faced the host school, Bethel University.  The Royals entered the season ranked #12 in the AVCA/DIII preseason coaches poll.

NWU held their own and won set three 25-22, but Bethel was too much as they won in scores of 25-21, 25-17, 22-25 and 25-15.

Freshman Hannah Bellinghausen led the way for NWU with 17 kills and only two errors to hit .500 for the match.  Joining Bellinghausen in double figures for kills was Kierra Harder with 11.  Hegert led the way with 15 digs.  Crandall recorded a double-double with 42 assists and 14 digs.