STEVENS POINT, Wis.—The Bethel University volleyball team dropped their first match of the season Saturday afternoon in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, as the Royals (8-1, 0-0 MIAC) finished 1-1 on the day and 3-1 overall at the Pointer Invitational.  BU fell to No. 15-ranked Stevens Point 3-1 before sweeping (RV) the College of Saint Benedict 3-0.
 
The Royals and Pointers exchanged 25-20 victories in the opening two sets before Stevens Point went ahead 2-1 with a 25-14 victory in the third. BU trailed 22-17 in the fourth and despite a valiant comeback, UW-SP got the "W" with a 25-23 triumph in the final frame.
 
BU tallied 52 points against the Pointers on 46 kills, three aces, and three blocks. Leading the way offensively was Tina Hoppe, who slammed 13 kills, while hitting .200. Also posting double-digit kills was Karin Canakes, who finished with 10 and an attacking percentage of .308.

Katie Lubben recorded a team-high 21 assists and seven digs, while Holly Ellwanger composed 13 assists and 12 digs. Carlee Hoppe amassed 24 digs for the Royals.
 
Play didn't get any easier in the second match of the day, as Bethel needed every ounce of effort against the Blazers, who are receiving votes after defeating No. 4-ranked Emory on the opening weekend.
 
The first set was an absolute roller coaster, as BU went ahead 15-5 before CSB's 11-2 run that made the score 17-16 midway through the first. The Royals made sure to stay in front throughout the remainder of the frame, however, and held on for a 26-24 result. That gave Bethel the momentum needed to carry them in sets two and three, as the Royals topped the Blazers 25-15 and 25-16 in the second and third, respectively.
 
Bethel posted 40 points on 34 kills, four aces, and two blocks. Canakes continued her success with a team-high nine kills on 15 attempts (.400). Following Canakes was Tina Hoppe, who added eight kills and four digs.
 
Callie Sinclair and Carlee Hoppe both stuffed the stat sheet, as Sinclair finished with six kills on 16 attempts (.313) and 11 digs and Hoppe totaled six kills on 20 attempts (.200) and a team-high 12 digs.
 
The Royals received very even numbers from both setters, including 16 assists from senior Katie Lubben and 15 from sophomore Holly Ellwanger.

Following the weekend, senior Carlee Hoppe was voted to the eight-player All-Tournament Team.
 
Bethel begins conference play this coming week, as the Royals travel to St. Peter on Wednesday, September 14, to take on Gustavus Adolphus College. The showcase will be a rematch of the MIAC Championship that was hosted at GAC on November 7, 2015.