MISHAWAKA, Ind. - Lawrence Tech opened strong but could not hold off Bethel (IN) on Friday, falling 3-1 in the WHAC Conference tournament semifinals at Goodman Gymnasium. Bethel won 18-25, 25-15, 27-25, 25-23, ending the Blue Devils' season at 17-8 overall and 12-6 in league play as the team now waits to learn whether it did enough to earn a spot in the national tournament.
The Blue Devils took control early in the opening set and claimed a 25-18 win behind efficient offense and timely finishes. Mario Cid delivered the final kill of the set, part of a 10-kill night for Lawrence Tech. The opening frame was the team's best stretch of the match, setting the tone with aggressive swings and a defensive presence at the net.
Bethel answered quickly in the second set, pulling away for a 25-15 win and evening the match. McGwire Eigenrauch closed that set with a service ace, one of five aces for the Pilots. Bethel's offense became more consistent from there, finishing with 54 kills and a .225 hitting percentage, while Lawrence Tech posted 44 kills and hit .215.
The third set proved to be the turning point. Lawrence Tech stayed within reach throughout a tight race to the finish, but Bethel escaped with a 27-25 win when Thomas Dunkley put away the deciding kill. That narrow margin left the Blue Devils chasing the match in the fourth, even after another competitive push.
Lawrence Tech had strong individual performances despite the loss. Yegor Volkov led the Blue Devils with 19 kills and 23.0 points, carrying a heavy attacking load. Pedro Aguiar directed the offense with 39 assists and added six digs and three block assists. Cid contributed 10 kills, six digs and four block assists as Lawrence Tech totaled 13 team blocks, compared with 9.5 for Bethel.
The fourth set stayed close to the end, but Bethel finished it off at 25-23 on a kill from Ling Pak him, who led all Bethel attackers with 17 kills and added three aces. Eigenrauch totaled 49 assists and 10 digs for the Pilots. For Lawrence Tech, the semifinal result closed a 17-8 season and left the Blue Devils awaiting the national tournament field after a year that included a 12-6 mark in WHAC play.
