ARDEN HILLS, Minn.—Bethel University improved to 3-1 in conference play and 13-5 overall thanks to a 3-1 victory (21-25, 25-15, 25-18, 25-15) over Macalester College Wednesday night. The Royals entertained an upbeat homecoming crowd throughout the match, as the team fought off many long rallies and hit .286 throughout the match.
 
The Scots made sure to extend the match by one set with a 25-21 victory in the opening frame. Macalester matched Bethel almost kill for kill, but outlasted the Royals when it came to serving and serve receive. Within the first set alone, Macalester tallied three serving aces.
 
The Royals responded well, however, and stormed back to take the final three sets with authority. Bethel held Macalester to attacking percentages of .047 and .065 in the second and third games, while also forcing them into four serve receive errors. Meanwhile, BU hit .425 in the fourth set and left no doubt in a 25-15 rout over the Scots.
 
What started out as a slow night for sophomore Carlee Hoppe heated up quickly, as the 2013 MIAC Rookie of the Year recorded 18 kills and a hitting mark of .351. Kristin Stern also hit above .300 and rattled off double-digit kills, alongside four block assists.
 
Other top performers included Tegan LaBerge and Kali Johnson. LaBerge finished with nine kills and a .350 hitting mark, while also blocking six attack attempts from Macalester. Johnson nearly finished with a double-double, mustering seven kills and 14 digs throughout the match.
 
Katie Lubben had quite the night, ending the conference matchup with 44 sets, 13 digs, and four kills on six attempts. The sophomore from Chanhassen, Minn., now ranks first among all MIAC setters in total assists (673) and stands in second within the assists per set (10.35) category.
 
Now 3-1 within loop play, Bethel will take their show on the road for approximately three and a half weeks. Up next for BU is a league test against St. Catherine this Saturday at 1 p.m.