MINNEAPOLIS—After a spectacular 14-5 start to the season, including a 4-1 mark in conference play, the Bethel University volleyball team was anxious to face No. 24-ranked Augsburg College on the road Wednesday night. The road test against the Auggies was hopped to be a good measuring stick of the Royals success thus far, but Augsburg sent Bethel home empty handed thanks to a 3-0 victory at Si Melby Hall.
 
The Royals were in every set and had an opportunity to be victorious, but the Auggies fed off their home crowd and overcame Bethel down the stretch. Trailing 20-21 late in the first set, BU allowed Augsburg to finish the frame on a 4-1 run in a 25-21 opener. Bethel led 18-17 in the second set, but again Augsburg showed their ability to finish by going on a 5-0 run to seal the set and go ahead 2-0. The Royals dug a big hole in the third—trailing 4-11—but after narrowing the margin to 12-14, the Auggies went on a 7-2 run en route to a 25-19 victory.
 
Katie Lubben finished the match with 35 kills and six digs for the Royals, while four members of the Bethel squad finished with double-digit digs. Libero Maddison Messner led the club with 15, while Kali Johnson had 14, and Jillian Krier and Carlee Hoppe each had 10.
 
Kristin Stern and Tegan LaBerge each had a solid night at the middle position. Stern led all Royals with 12 kills and a .345 attacking percentage, while LaBerge recorded nine kills and tallied five blocks.
 
With the loss, Bethel drops to 14-6 overall and 4-2 in conference play. The Royals still sit in fourth place with Saint Benedict and are two matches out of first. BU has a week to recover before facing another Top 25 opponent in Saint Benedict on the road next Wednesday night at 7 p.m.