BETHANY, W.Va. -- Early deficits played a role in a 3-1 loss for the Washington & Jefferson College volleyball team at Bethany on Thursday night in a Presidents' Athletic Conference match. 

The host Bison won the match in four sets by scores of 25-21, 25-23, 23-25 and 28-26.

Bethany raced out to an early 8-2 lead in the first set. W&J countered back with 8 of the next 10 points to tie the set score at 10-10. The run was capped by a kill by freshman Lauren Gill (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington North). The teams traded points until Bethany gained some separation late in the set to win 25-21.

W&J one again dug a hole in the second set, as the Red and Black faced a 10-4 deficit before taking a timeout. The Presidents again rallied back with a run to tie the score at 11-11 after seven of the next eight points. Back-to-back kills by Lizzie Carmichael (Wyoming, Ohio/Wyoming) and a pair of service aces by Claire Sauerland (Hollidaysburg, Pa./Hollidaysburg) gave W&J a 17-13 lead. However, the Presidents squandered an opportunity in the set and the Bison scored eight of the next 10 points to capture a 22-19 edge. The Presidents couldn't recover and dropped a tight second set by a 25-23 score. 

The Presidents pulled out a 25-23 victory in a back and forth third set. A service ace by Gill evened the score at 22-22. After a Bison point gave them a one-point edge, the Presidents tallied the final three points to secure the set win. A service ace by Tomassini sealed the set victory. 

The two teams played another back-and-forth highly contested set in the fourth. W&J tied the match several times late. A kill by Ashley Bertling (Berkley, Mich. / Berkley) made the score 24-24 then a successful attack from Carmichael made it 25-25 to keep W&J's hopes of a fifth set alive. A kill by Ashley Kovel (Everett, Pa./Everett) made the score even at 26-26. However, the Bison recorded the next two points to finish off the victory. 

Sauerland finished with team highs in kills (11) and digs (17) in the loss. Carmichael added seven kills and four total blocks while Alexis Tomassini (Gettysburg, Pa./Gettysburg Area) registered 25 assists. 

Due to a schedule change, W&J now is off until Saturday, March 20 when they travel to Geneva College.