Box Score 1 | Box Score 2




TACOMA, Washington—The Bethel University volleyball team closed out the Puget Sound Premier Saturday afternoon with a pair of wins against two NAIA opponents from Oregon, including Corban University, out of Salem, and the Oregon Institute of Technology, out of Klamath Falls.
 
After two four-set matches to begin the season Friday, the Royals continued that trend in Saturday's first match with a 3-1 win over the Warriors of Corban University. BU dropped the opening set 22-25, despite possessing a 22-20 lead, but rebounded nicely with wins in three consecutive sets. 
 
Bethel trailed CU 22-24 late in the second frame, but was able to rally for a 27-25 victory. Then trailing 0-4 in the third, the Royals charged ahead of the Warriors with an 18-4 run thanks to a string of 10 consecutive serves by junior Kali Johnson. The fourth set was Bethel from the beginning, as BU jumped out to a 14-6 lead and never looked back en route to a 25-12 triumph.
 
Kristin Stern continued the incredible start to her rookie season with 21 kills throughout the match and a .486 hitting percentage. Fellow middle blocker Lindsay Kerr also went for double-digit kills, tallying 14 slams on 29 attempts, alongside a .379 percentage.
 
In just her second season, setter Katie Lubben recorded a career-high 56 assists throughout the four sets. Lubben was greatly aided by Kali Johnson's 22 digs, as well as four others that managed double-digit digs.
 
Johnson's 22 digs were combined with eight kills and a .353 hitting mark. Johnson's three serving aces led the Royals, who finished with 12 total.
 
The Royals didn't need a fourth set in their second match Saturday, as they routed the opposing Owls in three sets (25-17, 25-14, 25-20). Nine service aces and 52 digs throughout the match aided Bethel's victory.
 
Newcomer Tegan LeBerge recorded four aces herself, alongside six kills and four block assists. Teammate Nicole Deberry teamed up with LaBerge in every block assist, finishing the contest with five.
 
Kristin Stern ended the match with a team-high 15 kills in 28 attempts, good enough for a .429 hitting mark. In the four matches this weekend, Stern mustered 60 kills (4.00 kills / set) and a hitting percentage of .393. After sitting in the first match Saturday, Carlee Hoppe returned to the court when facing OIT to wrack up 11 kills.
 
After a career-high 56 sets earlier in the day, Katie Lubben recorded 41 assists over the three sets and Kevyn Janicek led the team with 20 digs.

Now 3-1 on the season, the Royals will return home Monday and look ahead to their own invitational next weekend in the Robertson Center Gym. All Bethel University matches will have live stats and webcast available. Fans can also follow the Royals on twitter.