Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

TACOMA, Washington—The Bethel University volleyball team opened their 2014 campaign Friday morning nearly 1,700 miles away from home. After two weeks of preseason training, the Royals enjoyed their first two matches of season at the Puget Sound Premier. Throughout the day BU faced highly-competitive teams—taking on both No. 21-ranked Pacific Lutheran University and the University of Puget Sound, who is receiving votes in the preseason Top 25.

In the opening match against the Lutes, Bethel captured a first-set victory by the final tally of 25-20. The Royals trailed PLU 1-4 early, but stormed back with seven unanswered points to grab an 8-4 advantage. BU heightened its lead to 19-13 late in the game, before the Lutes narrowed the gap at 20-19. Bethel allowed just one more point the rest of the way, however, and captured the first set 25-20 after a 5-1 run.

The Royals stayed with Pacific Lutheran in the second set, as the two teams were tied at 21-21 late in the frame. The Lutes quickly ended Bethel's momentum though, as they evened the match at one with a 4-0 run. Games three and four favored PLU, which handed Bethel its first loss of the season.

Freshman Kristin Stern led the team with nine kills, four blocks, and a .304 attacking percentage. In addition to Stern, Carlee Hoppe and Nicole Deberry put down seven and six kills, respectively. Katie Lubben tallied 31 assists throughout the match and four different players recorded nine or more digs. 

The second match was much more friendly for the Royals, as BU captured its first win of the season over the hosting Loggers from Puget Sound. Bethel won a barn-burner in the opening set, as they came from behind to defeat UPS 27-25. In the frame, BU led 24-23 before the Loggers rallied for two points and had the Royals at set point. Bethel responded, though, with three unasnwered points for the victory.

The Royals left no doubt in the second set, as they took hold of a 2-0 match lead after a 25-20 win. The Loggers then rallied in the third game to defeat BU 25-20 before Bethel closed out the match with a 25-18 triumph. 

Bethel's first victory of the 2014 season was highlighted by 47 assists by Katie Lubben, along with 15 and 13 kills by Kristin Stern and Carlee Hoppe, respectively. Newcomers Courtney Sheets and Maddison Messner also had an exceptional performance in the back row, recording 25 and 18 digs. As a team, the Royals tallied 87 digs throughout the match.

Now 1-1 on the season, Bethel will close out their weekend play in Tacoma with a pair of contests Saturday against NAIA opponents Corban University and Oregon Institute of Technology. The Royals face Corban at noon (ET) followed by their fourth and final match of the Puget Sound Premier against OIT at 4 p.m. (ET). 

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