Box Score

ST. PAUL, Minn. - In a season that has seen the Bethel Royals take on some of the best teams in the nation, they have earned some uplifting wins and have endured some humbling losses as well. Tonight, the Royals saw their hard work come to fruition as they fought back against the Macalester Scots on the road to take their match to a fifth and decisive set for the first time in 2008. The result was a 3-2 (25-21, 18-25, 24-26, 25-17, 15-10) victory for Bethel's first conference win of the season.

Three different Royals each had more than 10 kills, and four players had more than 10 points on the night. Co-captain Chelsea Falck (Sr., DeForest, Wis.) was Bethel's top scorer, recording 12 kills, a service ace, two solo blocks, and two solo assists for 16 points. Fellow co-captain Jennifer Stoa (Sr., Brooklyn Park, Minn.) had 13 points from eight kills and two service aces, but it was her play at the net - a block and four block assists - that gave Bethel a boost. Together with Kelly Otto (Jr., Plymouth, Minn.), the two of them accounted for 6.5 of the Royals 14 blocks, which was twice as many as the Scots.

Otto was the second highest scorer with 13.5 points on 10 kills and her seven block assists. Nicole Wriedt (Fr., Pewaukee, Wis.) tallied 11 kills and two block assists of her own for 12 points. Betsy Naatjes (So., Sioux Falls, S.D.) had 34 assists and 11 digs, while Bethany Shearer (Jr., Prior Lake, Minn.) had 17 digs to contribute to Bethel's offensive efforts.

While the Royals spread out their offense, the Scots got a majority of their points from Majra Mucic and Sonia Muzikaraova, who recorded 22 and 20.5 points, respectively. Tonight's match also marked the first time any Royals team has been able to play in the brand new, multi-million dollar Leonard Center, which opened for play in late August.

Bethel's first conference win of the season gives them a 1-4 record in the MIAC and an overall record of 6-11. On the other side of the net, the Royals kept the Scots winless in five conference games, dropping them to an overall record of 4-11. Bethel is scheduled to return home to take on St. Thomas next Wednesday evening beginning at 7 p.m. in the Robertson Center gym for their next match.