Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

WAVERLY, Iowa—Bethel University dropped two more nonconference matches Saturday to Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) opponents, Luther and Coe College. The Royals (9-12, 2-3 MIAC) return from the Wartburg tournament without a win, but with significant improvement.

"The weekend didn't result in any match wins, but we did some really nice things against some of the top teams in the Midwest, if not the nation," said head volleyball coach Gretchen Hunt. Hunt continued, "Our serving continued to improve and put pressure on teams, while Claire Assam had a great weekend—proving that she 100 percent healthy after an early season injury. Kali Johnson had teams on their heals with her serve, and kept us in points with her defense, while Carlee Hoppe rallied from her seven-kill match the first night to record double digit kills the rest of the way."

Claire Assam and Callie McKown both muscled eight kills against Luther College, while Hoppe and Ashlyn Hucky went for seven. Hucky did the majority of sets, as the freshman finished with 28 assists in Saturday's opening match.

Meanwhile, Kali Johnson played exceptionally—finishing with 22 digs, four assists, and two serving aces. Paige Van Wyk added 11 digs.

Carlee Hoppe unloaded in the second match of the day for 17 kills in 53 attempts, which went along with 20 digs in the freshman's stat sheet. Hoppe was one of five Bethel players to record double-digit digs in the second match. Kali Johnson collected 15 digs, while Hannah Grow, Paige Van Wyk, and Nicole Ackatz each had 10.
 
Nicole Ackatz also contributed 16 kills and four blocks in Saturday's second match. Ashlyn Hucky finished the 3-1 loss with 30 assists and Kali Johnson flustered the Kohawks with three serving aces.

"It was a good weekend to prep for Saint Benedict and try to build chemistry. We are ready for this final stretch of conference play," noted Hunt.

The Royals will welcome the No. 12-ranked Blazers to the Robertson Center Gym Wednesday night for one of the final home MIAC matchups of the 2013 season.