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Box Score 2 ARDEN HILLS, Minn.—The Bethel University volleyball team kept their proverbial foot on the gas pedal following Friday night's exciting opener to the 2016 season. The Royals (4-0, 0-0 MIAC), who defeated Nebraska Welseyan and Willamette Friday evening, continued their unbeaten start with a 3-1 victory over (RV) Wartburg College and a 3-1 decision over Wheaton College Saturday afternoon.
BU tallied 73.0 points against the Knights (3-1, 0-0 IIAC) on 61 kills, four aces, and eight blocks. The Royals hit .237 as a team, thanks to
Kristin Stern, who continued her dominance with 18 kills and a .325 attacking percentage.
Tina Hoppe and
Carlee Hoppe both added 12 slams, while
Karin Canakes and
Callie Sinclair contributed seven each. Canakes led the team with a .636 attacking percentage.
Katie Lubben and
Holly Ellwanger both provided excellence from the setter position, as Lubben posted 29 assists and Ellwanger 25. Five different team members recorded double-digit digs, including defensive specialist
Jillian Krier, who led the team with 17. Sinclair was right behind with 16.
The Royals then utilized 70.0 points on 52 kills, seven aces, and 11 blocks to top the Thunder (1-3, 0-0 CCIW) in the fourth and final match of the weekend invitational. Bethel finished the contest with a .263 hitting percentage, thanks to a .414 clip in the third set. Stern led BU once again with 19 kills and a .459 attacking mark, alongside three block assists.
Carlee Hoppe posted 13 kills and 10 digs, while
Tina Hoppe added 10 kills and 14 digs.
Katie Lubben paced Bethel with 29 assists, followed by
Holly Ellwanger, who finished with 16.
Over the course of the two-day, four-match tournament
Kristin Stern recorded 77 kills (5.13 kills/set), 85.0 points (5.67 points/set), and a .464 hitting percentage—which all currently lead the MIAC.
Now 4-0 on the season, BU welcomes the University of Minnesota-Morris to the Robertson Center for a nonconference match on Wednesday, September 7. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.
