The 2012-13 athletic season has come to a close, but not without significant success stories from both a team and individual perspective. Over the course of the next two weeks www.bethelroyals.com will release the Top 10 stories from the past nine months, starting with No. 10 and moving up. Today, we reveal the honorable mention list—which includes a number of stories that were significant, but just missed the cut.
 
Women's Tennis Reaches Postseason for First Time
With a 9-9 record in overall play and a 4-5 mark against conference opponents, the Bethel University women's tennis team recorded its best season in program history after reaching the 2013 MIAC Playoffs for the first time. The Royals ended the regular season with a three-game win streak to reach the postseason, but were knocked out of the conference tournament by Gustavus Adolphus in the first round. Bethel was led by a quartet of seniors including Lisa Scheevel, Steph Brown, Lindsey Vivian, and Kayla Wheeler.
 
Val Smith Leads Volleyball Team to Second Consecutive Postseason
After advancing to the 2011 NCAA Division III Championships, the Royals volleyball team had a taste of the postseason and they were hungry for more. Riding exceptional defense by the 2012 MIAC Defensive Player of the Year, Val Smith, and phenominal hitting and blocking by senior middle blockers, Caitie Helle and Amy Baumetz, Bethel finished the season 19-13 overall and 6-5 in conference play to secure a spot in the 2012 MIAC Playoffs. Bethel fell to Concordia in the opening round of the postseason.
 
Women's Hockey Advances to Third-Straight MIAC Playoffs
With an 11-5-2 record in conference play and 15-10-2 mark overall, the Bethel University women's hockey team advanced to their third consecutive MIAC Playoffs. While in the postseason, the Royals defeated St. Catherine on their home ice before losing to Gustavus in the final minutes of the semifinal game. Biz Huss, Kate Wahlin, Jess Newstrom, Molly Eagles, and Sarah Kartak were the five seniors in BU sweaters.
 
Baseball Captures First Postseason Victory in Program History
Breaking a 12-year skid in reaching the MIAC Playoffs one year ago, the Royals made it two-straight appearances with 10-10 mark against conference opponents and a 24-15 record overall. As the No. 4 seed in the MIAC Playoffs, Bethel's squad upended Saint John's 4-2 in the tournament opener before falling to St. Thomas the following day. The win over the Johnnies was the first MIAC postseason victory in program history. Four seniors paced Bethel throughout the season, including Esteban Abbey, David Freed, Jesse Nickols, and Matt Rowley.
 
Men's Basketball Reaches Postseason for Second Year in a Row
Winning 10 of 13 games at the midway point in the season helped the Bethel University men's basketball team finish the season 15-11 overall and 11-9 in conference play, and enabled them to reach the MIAC Playoffs for the second consecutive year. The Royals dropped a heartbreaker to Carleton in the opening round of the postseason 43-48 in the No. 4 vs. No. 5 matchup. Four seniors pushed Bethel in the winning campaign, including Taylor Hall, Blake Nicols, JD Robinson, and Bjorn Westlund.