BOX SCORE

ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – Momentum and intensity that accumulated throughout the final week of MIAC play only continued in Arden Hills, Minn. Tuesday night as No. 3 Bethel hosted No. 6 Augsburg at the Robertson Center Gym. The Royals instituted the same passion and drive that they have continued to showcase throughout the entire season and came away victorious 3-1 (25-22, 25-22, 22-25, 25-18). The win allows BU to advance to the conference semi-finals and will take Bethel on the road Thursday night to No. 2 University of St. Thomas.

The first set found BU down early, as the Auggies jumped to an initial 5-2 lead. The Royals wasted no time getting back into the game, however, as Amy Werner (Jr., Thee Lakes, Wis.), Kate Smith (Sr., Arden Hills, Minn.), and Caitie Helle (Jr., Onamia, Minn.) each delivered kills on an 8-2 Bethel run. Augsburg managed to tie the game at 14-all and each team scored back-and-forth all the way to 22-22. From there the Royals closed the first set with three straight points, with decisive kills by Nicole Wriedt (Sr., Pewaukee, Wis.) and Caitie Helle.

Augsburg took the lead yet again in set two, opening the game on a 6-2 run. The Royals displayed perseverance and wit yet again, battling back to tie the game at 11. From there BU carried a one-point advantage throughout the majority of the match until Amy Werner landed her eighth kill of the match, giving the Royals a 23-21 lead. Bethel went on to take its second of two sets 25-22.

The third set started differently than the first two with Bethel jumping out to the early 5-2 lead and ironically enough, it ended differently as well. The Royals looked to be in control of the set, and perhaps the match with a 17-13 lead. Yet it was a critical Augsburg timeout that changed the whole dynamic of the set. From that point on the Auggies snapped a 12-5 run, ending the game in Augsburg's favor 25-22.

In the fourth set Bethel showcased its eagerness and drive to advance to the next level. The Royals jumped out to a 10-4 lead and never looked back, as the home team finished the underdogs 25-18 in the final frame. Amy Werner tallied four more kills alongside Nicole Wriedt, who delivered three herself.

Throughout the evening affair Bethel posted 55 kills on 163 attempts for an overall attacking percentage of .202. In the fourth match alone the Royals were exceptional with a .344 attacking percentage on 14 kills. Amy Werner has come up big in the last three matches as she has averaged 16 kills per match. Tonight was no different, as Werner boasted a .333 attacking percentage on 18 kills. Nicole Wriedt tallied ten kills, while Caitie Helle, Kate Smith, and Nicole Ackatz (So., Elkhorn, Wis.) each added seven.

The senior setter Kate Smith accumulated 46 assists throughout the four sets, while Valerie Smith (Jr., Alexandria, Minn.) saved numerous attacks, leading all competitors with 31 digs.

BU looks to end its recent drought against St. Thomas Thursday night in the MIAC Tournament semi-finals. Bethel will travel to St. Paul to face the Tommies, a location it just played less than five days ago. In the match that these two teams played against one another UST defeated Bethel 3-1, however, BU had the Tommies on the ropes on more than one occasion. Game time for Thursday night's matchup is set for 7 p.m.