Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 BOX SCORES: GAME ONE | GAME TWO

ROSEVILLE, Minn. – The senior class demonstrated their desire to get back to the NCAA Playoffs, as the trio put on a clinic Friday evening at the Ericksen Center on day one of the Northwestern College ACR Homes Volleyball Tournament to help Bethel begin its season 2-0.
 
The Royals opened Friday's pair of contests with a 3-0 victory over Wisconsin Lutheran. In the battle against the Warriors, Bethel's Amy Baumetz (Sr., Three Lakes, Wis.) and Caitie Helle (Sr., Onamia, Minn.) led the way with seven kills each. Baumetz finished the three-game affair with a .263 attacking percentage, while Helle was just behind with a mark of .238. The combo of middle blockers was also exceptional defensively, as Helle finished with seven blocks and Baumetz added four.
 
Val Smith (Sr., Alexandria, Minn.) also exhibited senior leadership with 26 digs in the opening match. In addition, BU recorded 11 serving aces collectively.
 
The 5 p.m. competition was simply an appetite to the second match of the evening, as Bethel challenged the hosting Eagles to a rematch of round one of the NCAA Division III Playoffs a season ago. In a playoff-like atmosphere with fans crowding the Ericksen Center gym, the Royals claimed its second 3-0 (26-24, 25-20, 25-23) victory of the night, including the third set 25-23 win after being down 16-21.
 
Bethel's volleyball squad was rolling on all cylinders throughout the match, despite tough competition. Cierra Nickel (So., Sanborn, Minn.) tallied 45 assists in the three-game challenge, which allowed four players to record double-digit kills.
 
Baumetz lead the quartet with 13 kills, which translated to a .417 attacking percentage. Meanwhile, Caitie Helle finished with 11 kills, while Callie McKown (Fr., Plymouth, Minn.) and Nicole Ackatz (Jr., Elkhorn, Wis.) both finished with 10. This led to a .375 attacking percentage by the Royals in the second set.
 
Not only was the play at the net explosive, but the defensive effort from the back row was nearly flawless. Smith finished with 18 digs, though Nickel and Kali Johnson (Fr., Tacoma, Wash.) each posted 10 digs as well.
 
Now 2-0, BU will face UW-River Falls Saturday at 12 p.m., followed immediately by a dual against Buena Vista at 2 p.m.