WASHINGTON, Pa. -- The Washington & Jefferson College volleyball team dropped a four-set match to Bethany in Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) league play on Tuesday evening at the Henry Center.
 
The Bison claimed the match with set scores of 26-24, 25-17, 19-25 and 25-19.
 
In the first set, the Presidents used an 8-1 spurt to turn a 9-6 deficit into a 14-10 advantage. However a Bethany run placed the visitors ahead 23-19. W&J scored the next five-straight points to lead 24-23 and serve for a set point, however three consecutive Bison kills followed as Bethany took the set.
 
After dropping the second set 25-17, the Presidents' rebounded in the third set. A five-point run powered by kills from Julia Bernesser (Glenshaw, Pa./Shaler) and Haley Nelson (Warren, Pa./Warren) put the Presidents ahead 14-11. Another four-point string pushed the Presidents ahead 21-14. Bethany crept back into the set at 22-18, but W&J scored three of the next four points to take the it 25-19.
 
W&J looked to force a deciding fifth set by opening a 10-7 advantage in the fourth set, but Bethany came roaring back with an 8-1 run. Consecutive kills by Bernesser put the Presidents down one, 19-18, but five-straight Bison points helped seal the match for Bethany.
 
Returning from injury, Bernesser paced the Presidents with 12 kills. Senior Morgan Jacques (Pittsburgh, Pa./Pittsburgh Science & Technology Academy) had 10 kills, two block assists and a team-best .172 hitting percentage. Nelson added nine kills. Ashley Kovel (Everett, Pa./Everett) notched five kills and three total blocks.
 
Libero Makenzie Coughlin (Brunswick, Ohio/Brunswick) had 26 digs to lead the Presidents' defense. Setters Mallory O'Brien (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) and Alexis Tomassini (Gettysburg, Pa./Gettysburg) had 20 assists apiece, with O'Brien recording a double-double with 15 digs.
 
W&J (4-19, 3-9 PAC) heads to Saint Vincent Saturday for a PAC showdown with the Bearcats.