The Bethany College women's soccer team sits at .500 after tying their last game and needs a win in their final game to make the postseason, as midfielder Colleen McNurlen discusses the team improving communication but struggling with a new coach. The volleyball team lost their first home game against Thomas More after taking the first game but struggling with errors in later games, ending the senior night on a sour note before preparing for the PAC tournament as the second seed.

1. The TOWER Sports 7
An Inside Perspective on Women’s Soccer Bison Clench the Number 2 Seed in PAC
By JAMES BARTON had hoped for as far as success.
TOWER contributor What do you feel that your team
Stumbling into the end of the has improved on from last year?
regular season, the Bethany Col- CM: We work better together,
lege Womens’ Soccer team sits and are more focused on the task
barely at an over 500 record and at hand, which is winning games.
hopes to make a charge for the What has been your key to suc-
post-season. Tying their last game cess personally this season?
against Waynesburg ensures that CM: I would say the people
without a win in their next game, around me who have influenced me
against Washington and Jefferson, to be the best player that I can be.
they will not be playing in the post- Did you set any goals or stan-
season. As they continue to find the dards for yourself before this sea-
key they are looking for to have a son?
successful season, players like Col- CM: Yes, it was to beat Washing-
leen McNurlen have high spirits ton and Jefferson and we have yet
and determination to end the sea- to play them, so it is still a goal.
son on a high note. I sat down with What separates you from other
Colleen to get her perspective on players?
the season and her own personal CM: I do not think anything sepa-
goals. rates me from anyone else. For the The Bethany College Women’s Volleyball team huddles before begining a match against Thomas
More at Hummel Fieldhouse. The Saints handed the Bison their first home loss of the season. (Photo
The TOWER: What have been most part, everyone brings some-
by Amanda Rodabaugh)
the positives and negatives of this thing different to the table.
season for the team? What do you plan on doing differ- By AMANDA RODABAUGH themselves into a hole with many
Colleen McNurlen: One of the ently next season? TOWER staff writer attack errors and struggling to re-
most positive things of this season CM: I plan on being a role model After clenching the No. 2 seed in turn the Saints serves. After the
was beating Thomas More, who for the underclassmen by having the PAC, the Bison volleyball team Saints went on a run, the Bison
was nationally ranked and unde- determination to win and setting a picked up their first home loss of were unable to rally back, falling in
feated in the section. Also, we com- positive example. the season against the Thomas defeat with only 11 points to their
municate well as a team and mesh The Bison played a must-win More Saints. Earlier in the season opponents 15.
well together on and off the field. game against Washington and Jef- the Bison won 3 straight games Leading the way for the Bison
As far as negatives, overcoming ferson, Saturday, October 29, at against the Saints bringing home was junior setter Jessica Zavatch-
the obstacles of adjusting to a new noon. The results of this game were an easy victory. The second match- en, who passed out 55 assists and
coach has been hard. Most of all, not available at press time. up between the teams was much came up with 17 digs. Junior Taylor
we haven’t had the season that we more intense as both teams battled Cassidy lead hitters with 16 kills,
for each and every point. With both while Lauren Goodwill chipped in
teams blocking a majority of their with 13. Tiffany Hoffman, who set
opponents attacks, the game came a career-high with 39 digs, paced
down to strategy and whomever the back row.
could make the least amount of er- It was a tough loss for the team
rors. as a whole, but for the four seniors
The Bison took the first game, celebrating their senior night and
winning 25-16. As many were be- last match in the Hummel Field
ginning to think the Saints would House it hurt just a little bit more.
hand over the second win, as they Senior captains Carrie Talkington,
had the first game, they came back Megan Hoffman, Tiffany Hoffman,
to win 25-18. The Bison realized and Jessica Cole were honored be-
The TOWER has moved! the Saints were not going home
without a fight and both teams
fore the game for the four years
they have dedicated to playing col-
We are now available online battled on. The Bison took the
third game with a close score of 28-
lege volleyball. Luckily, this loss
was not the last game the seniors
on our new website: 26. Thomas More stole the fourth
game winning 26-24 over the Bison
will play with their team as they
will advance to the PAC Tourna-
http://toweronline.bethanywv. who were struggling in the back
row as the front row tried to find
ment. As No. 2 team in the PAC,
second to Geneva College, the team
edu/ holes in the Saints’ blocks. The fifth
game began with the Bison digging
will receive a bye into the semifi-
nals of the PAC Tournament.