STEUBENVILLE—The Franciscan University Lady Baron volleyball team welcomed the 13-0 Bethany College Bison into Finnegan Fieldhouse for its last match before the start of conference play. The Lady Barons fell to the Bison, 3-0 (14-25, 19-25, 10-25.)

"Bethany is a very, very good team," said Lady Baron head coach Kelly Herrmann. The Bison received two votes in the most recent American Volleyball Coaches Association NCAA Division III top-25 rankings poll.

One of the big advantages that Herrmann mentioned Bethany had over her team was its depth of players. "They have an army of players," she noted, "and that is a great opportunity to create competition within a team. We don't have six middle-hitters [competing for playing time.]" Bethany had more than 20 girls suited up for the game, compared to Franciscan's 11.

Anna Cain was the only Lady Baron with double-digit kills on the night, as she registered 10 throughout the three games. Amy O'Keefe turned in 18 assists on the night, and Teresa Hess and Alyssa Wappes each tallied double-digit digs with 14 and 11, respectively.

"I think we conceded too much to them," said Herrmann. "You've got to play with that kind of fire and determination where you're not conceding anything to an opposing team. Obviously we would have to play extremely well to beat [Bethany], but they're on our schedule because we want to be challenged."

The Lady Barons (5-7) will try and bounce back as they begin conference play with a tri-match at Medaille College against Medaille and Hilbert College on Saturday. The first game is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. "We know that nothing really matters until conference play," added Herrmann, "and I think our team has that [necessary] focus."