Live Video | Live Stats | Saint Mary's Volleyball | MIAC Tournament Preview | Gameday Program
 
Bethel volleyball returns to the MIAC Playoffs for the 11th time since 1999, but the first time since 2012. The Royals, who finished in a two-way tie for fourth place at 7-4 in conference play will travel to Winona, Minn., Tuesday night to face the Cardinals from Saint Mary's University—the team they tied with—in a postseason tilt at 7 p.m.
 
Previously this season SMU defeated the Royals 3-0 in Winona on September 24. Since then, Bethel has gone 6-3 in conference play with all three losses coming against ranked opponents.  In that same time period, Saint Mary's is 6-3 with losses to Saint Benedict, Carleton, and Augsburg.
 
Bethel: By The Numbers
 
7: Seven wins against MIAC opponents, marks the most in-conference victories for the Royals since 2011, when they finished 8-3 and earned an invitation to the NCAA Playoffs.
 
246: Head Coach Gretchen Hunt has amassed 246 wins over her 14-year career with Bethel. At 18-9 this season, Hunt has strung together a 246-185 (.571) record as a collegiate head coach.
 
6: Six of Bethel's nine losses this season came against teams either ranked in the AVCA Top 25 poll today or teams that were ranked at the time of play.
 
9: Home court advantage was a big deal for Bethel this season, as the Royals finished 9-2 when playing in front of their fans at the Robertson Center Gym. When traveling for competition, BU finished the season 9-7, including a 2-3 mark in league play.
 
632: The first set has been statistically Bethel's bet set, as the Royals have the biggest margin of point differential in that frame (632-571) and they have the largest variance in sets won or lost (18-9).
 
1,053: Katie Lubben has accumulated 1,053 assists throughout the 2014 campaign, which ranks No. 2 among all MIAC setters and is in the Top 15 nationwide. Lubben is averaging 10.97 assists per set overall and 11.80 assists per set in conference play.
 
.337: Freshman sensation Kristin Stern is hitting a team-high .337 on the season and has averaged 3.25 kills per set. Stern's hitting percentage ranks No. 4 among all conference hitters and her team-high 309 total kills ranks sixth.
 
2.06: Bethel's defense at the net has been second to none, as the Royals rank No. 1 among all conference opponents in blocks per set in loop play. Bethel has averaged 2.06 blocks per set with transfer Tegan LaBerge leading the way at 1.17 blocks per set against MIAC adversaries.
 
326: All-around performer Kali Johnson has recorded a team-high 326 digs throughout her junior year to go alongside her 147 kills, 38 blocks, and 22 service aces. Johnson has played in all but one set all season long.
 
3.28: Carlee Hoppe leads the team in kills per set with an average of 3.28. Hoppe, who missed eight matches due to injury, has collected 289 kills and an attacking mark of .213.