Box Score

ARDEN HILLS, Minn. - Let it be said that despite losing by a score of 3-0, the Royals did not go down without a fight. Fans in attendance at tonight's MIAC volleyball match between the Bethel University Royals and the #15 Concordia Cobbers witnessed perhaps one of the greatest see-saw battles the conference has seen this year in the second set.

After falling 22-25 in the first set, Bethel led for a majority of the second set, but was forced to come from behind later on to tie it at 24-24. From that point, there were 12 ties and eight lead changes before the Cobbers finally pulled out a 38-36 victory. That's right, 38-36. Last season, when rally scoring still had games going to 30 points, the score would have certainly been unusual, but not nearly as unusual now with the 25-point set in place. The roller coaster of a set had fans on their feet with groans for a missed point nearly as audible as the applause from the other side of the net.

A tired and emotionally drained Bethel team returned to the floor for the third set, but was only able to draw as close as 13-14 before finally succumbing to Concordia 18-25.

Co-captain Chelsea Falck (Sr., DeForest, Wis.), playing in her last home match, went out with a strong performance by leading the Royals with 13.5 points on 13 kills and a block assist. Fellow co-captain Jennifer Stoa (Sr., Brooklyn Park, Minn. - pictured right) had a good night in her last home match as well by recording 10 points on eight kills, a service ace, and two block assists. Nicole Wriedt (Fr., Pewaukee, Wis.) also had 10 points on nine kills and two block assists.

However, it was Jenna Green from Concordia who led all scorers with 22 points on 17 kills, a service ace, and eight block assists. Katie Vohnoutka also finished in the double-digits with 13 points on and equal number of kills.

With the loss, Bethel falls to 2-8 in the conference and 9-17 overall. Meanwhile, Concordia, who clinched their eighth consecutive MIAC playoff berth last Friday, improves to 8-2 in the MIAC and 20-3 overall. The Royals have one match remaining in the 2008 season as they are scheduled to take on St. Catherine at 3 p.m. this coming Saturday in St. Paul, Minn.