Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 Box Scores [Wartburg] | [Cornell]
Mount Vernon, Iowa – Heading into the weekend with an overall record of 7-2 (0-1 MIAC) the Bethel University volleyball team took on No. 18-ranked Wartburg and Cornell College Friday in day one of the Cornell College Classic. Despite a very intense first match of the day, the Royals dropped a heart-wrenching match to the Knights of Wartburg College 3-0 (25-23, 25-20, 25-20). BU wouldn't back down in the second match of the day, however, as the Royals outlasted the Rams in five games 3-2 (25-22, 20-25, 25-20, 9-25, 15-12).
Bethel was unable to put a chink in the Knights' armor throughout the three-game match.
Amy Baumetz (Sr., Three Lakes, Wis.) led the BU attack with seven kills, followed by
Caitie Helle (Sr., Onamia, Minn.) and
Kali Johnson (Fr., Tacoma, Wash.), who each tallied six. Johnson also led the Royals with 14 digs, while
Val Smith (Sr., Alexandria, Minn.) managed 13. Bethel setter,
Cierra Nickel (So., Sanborn, Minn.), paced the Royals with 27 sets.
Head Coach
Gretchen Hunt's squad stormed back in the second match of the day against the tournament host, Cornell College. The Royals took sets one, three, and five to claim the five-game match, which included a team attacking percentage of .233 and .273 in the first and fifth frames, respectively.
Bethel's Helle was sensational against the rams, posting 17 kills throughout the competition. Baumetz and
Nicole Ackatz (Jr., Elkhorn, Wis.) also posted double-digit slams with 10 each. Baumetz was incredible defensively as well, rallying BU with four blocks throughout the match. Altogether, the Royals mustered eight blocks.
Val Smith was exceptional from the back row with 46 digs, while Nickel was equally outstanding with 41 assists.
BU's road of challenging opponents continues Saturday, as the Royals take on 2011 NCAA Division III National Tournament team UW-Eau Claire and UW-Platteville. Bethel will take on the Blugolds at 9 a.m. tomorrow morning followed by a matchup against the Pioneers at 11 a.m.
