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Volleyball
2017 MIAC Volleyball Playoffs Preview
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ARDEN HILLS, Minn. — Bethel University's volleyball program is scheduled to play in the Skoglund Center at St. Olaf College on Tuesday, October 31 at 7 p.m. in the quarterfinal round of the 2017 MIAC Playoffs. Prior to the Halloween affair, here are seven notes regarding BU volleyball.
Postseason record
Bethel's volleyball team is making their fourth consecutive trip to the MIAC Playoffs, sixth in the last seven years, and 12th since the tournament began in 2001. This is the first time ever that BU has reached the postseason in four straight seasons.
Season overview
The Royals enter postseason play with a 19-7 record overall, which includes a 7-4 mark against conference foes. Bethel was 7-0 at home, 4-6 on the road, and 8-1 in neutral locations. BU shutout nine opponents and was shutout twice in seven losses (UW-Stevens Point and Saint Benedict). Their 19 wins this season marks the sixth time in the last seven years that Bethel has won at least 18 games.
Home cookin'
Bethel was perfect on their home court in 2017, winning all seven matches played in the Robertson Center Gym. That feat hasn't been accomplished since 2002, when the Royals finished 5-0 at home. Home cooking isn't a new phenomenon, though, as BU is 33-6 (.846) in Arden Hills over the last four years.
Championship fever
BU has reached the MIAC Championship game in each of the last two seasons. The Royals did it as the No. 2 seed in 2015 and became the first No. 5 seed in MIAC history to reach the title contest in 2016.
Previous meeting
St. Olaf and Bethel met one other time this season and it was the Oles that defeated the Royals in Northfield by a final score of 3-1. Bethel won the opening set 25-21, but St. Olaf rallied and defeated BU in the second, third, and fourth sets. Ole outside hitters Summer Reid and Lauren Rewers both recorded 18 kills and 12-plus digs in the contest, while Kristin Stern led Bethel with 13 kills and three block assists.
Senior sensation
Kristin Stern, who was a three MIAC Volleyball Hitter of the Week recipient this season, is currently ranked No. 41 among all NCAA Division III players and No. 1 in the MIAC in hitting percentage with a season average of .333. Stern, a senior, is on pace to shatter Bethel's all-time record for career hitting percentage. The Sioux Falls, S.D. native has tallied 1,016 kills and just 256 errors in 2,251 total attempts, which has garnered a career hitting mark of .338. Carrie Ritland currently holds the record, as she hit .271 from 1996-99.
Can you dig it?
Dominique Dabu has been playing exceptionally well down the stretch. The sophomore libero has tallied 20 or more digs in four of the last seven matches and is averaging 5.43 digs per set in the last five matches played all throughout. Behind Dabu is junior outside hitter Brooke Olstad, who has tallied double-digit digs in nine of the last 10 matches.
