ARDEN HILLS, Minn.—As the Bethel University volleyball team nears the end of the 2014 regular season, they know every match is critical—especially those against equally-ranked teams in the league standings. That's why Wednesday night's 3-0 sweep (25-21, 25-21, 25-15) against the Pipers of Hamline University was critical, as each team was 4-3 coming into the conference tilt.
 
The Royals trailed in both the first and second set, however, they battled back to overcome the Pipers down the stretch in every frame.
 
Despite leading 13-11 in the opener, Bethel suffered a 5-2 run to Hamline and saw themselves trailing until the score was knotted in 17. BU then closed out the set with an 8-4 run, thanks to a pair of kills by Tegan LaBerge and five attack errors on the Pipers.
 
Like the first game, Hamline again led midway through the second—holding an 11-9 advantage over the Royals. Bethel put the car in cruise control from there, though, as they scored 12 of the next 19 points to go ahead 21-16. BU then closed out the match with its second 25-21 victory of the night.
 
Despite a 0-3 deficit to start the final set, Bethel finished the match with complete control. The Royals quickly erased their shortage and went ahead 12-8 at the half-way point. They didn't let up from there either, ending the match on a 13-7 run that witnessed BU's middles tally seven kills down the stretch.
 
Both middle blockers came up big all night, as Tegan LaBerge and Kristin Stern led the team and all players with 13 and 12 kills, respectively. Stern hit a ridiculous .417 at the net, while LaBerge finished at .345. On the night, Bethel's hitters recorded 42 kills and 7.0 blocks. LaBerge paced all blockers with six.
 
Katie Lubben had another sound night at the setter position. Lubben completed the MIAC matchup with 36 assists and eight digs, which pushes her season total to 921 assists (10.71 assists per set).
 
Jillian Krier, Kali Johnson, and Maddison Messner all finished with 14 digs throughout the match, helping the Royals tally 64 digs collectively. The trio of defenders, combined with the strong block, held the Pipers to a hitting percentage of .000.
 
Bethel resumes play tomorrow afternoon when the travel to Northfield, Minn., to take on Carleton College in another critical MIAC matchup. The Royals, now 5-3 in loop play, take on the Knights, who are still hungry for a postseason spot at 4-4, at 3 p.m.