Box Score
ARDEN HILLS, Minn.—Bethel University's volleyball squad gave the No. 10-ranked Blazers of Saint Benedict their money's worth Wednesday night in an exciting MIAC matchup, but fell in the end 3-1 (25-22, 21-25, 19-25, 25-27). The Royals (9-13, 2-4 MIAC) led in every game, including a 24-22 lead in the fourth set, but couldn't hold on in the end, as the Blazers (18-2, 4-2 MIAC) came-from-behind to capture their fourth straight victory.
"It was a heartbreaking loss because of how focused we were all night, and because of how close we got to taking them to a fifth set," commented
Gretchen Hunt. "We haven't had a fifth set experience this year, so that would have been awesome to experience."
Bethel opened the match with a 25-22 win in the opening set behind a .290 attacking percentage and four kills from freshman
Carlee Hoppe. Hoppe finished the match with 18 kills overall in 54 attempts (.241), combined with 18 digs defensively.
Hoppe's defensive counterpart
Kali Johnson was sensational in the opener as well, finishing with numerous digs that led to 24 in the match.
Hannah Grow and
Ashlyn Hucky also had seven digs.
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Hucky recorded 43 assists—a career high—against the Blazers, with just one setting error. The freshman from Waconia, Minn., also tallied four kills.
Hunt continued, "We talked about taking some risks tonight with our serves, and with getting other hitters involved, in order to be more balanced offensively. And I'm so proud of them for being willing to take those risks. Those are the steps we need to take to build chemistry and to win the MIAC matches we need to win to make the playoffs."Â
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Nicole Ackatz ended the night with 12 kills, four digs, and two blocks, while
Claire Assam and
Callie McKown each managed three blocks. Altogether, Bethel finished with 57 kills and a .222 attacking percentage, while mustering 75 digs and 52 assists.
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Taya Kockelman led the Blazers with 54 assists and eight kills, while Lexi Rinde was one of three CSB players to go for double digit kills (19).
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"I am proud of our focus and intensity throughout the match. With such a young team, that has been missing at times, but I had it from them almost every minute of the match," expressed Hunt. "St. Ben's is a great team, and it felt like a battle between two great teams tonight."
The Royals will host a double-header Friday evening at the Robertson Center gym—welcoming Moravian College and UW-Superior to Arden Hills. Moravian and UW-Superior will square off at 3 p.m., before Bethel takes on Moravian at 5 p.m. and Superior at 7 p.m.
