ARDEN HILLS, Minn.—Bethel University's volleyball team couldn't be more excited to enter the 2017 season following back-to-back MIAC championship appearances. The Royals, crowned NCAA Division III Region Champions in 2015 and the first 5-seed to reach the playoff conference championship in 2016, come into 2017 with a 62-31 record the last three years and five postseason appearances in the last six seasons.
 
Varsity Schedule | JV Schedule
 
Coach Gretchen Hunt's squad is scheduled to face 26 opponents during the regular season, including four that reached the NCAA tournament one year ago.
 
Contrary to the last five seasons, BU will not host the Bethel Invitational. Instead they'll begin their season out West, playing four matches in the Pacific Coast Classic on opening weekend.
 
The Royals return home for a nonconference match against Minnesota-Morris before traveling again to Stevens Point, Wis., for three matches the next weekend.
 
Bethel begins conference play the following Tuesday, when they travel to Winona to play Saint Mary's University on September 12. One nonconference contest against UW-Stout on September 15 stands in the way before BU faces six consecutive MIAC opponents.
 
The most notable contest during that stretch is a home match against reigning conference champion Gustavus Adolphus on September 22.
 
The Royals then go to Naperville, Ill., on October 13-14 for a four-match tournament at North Central College before resuming league play against Macalester at home on October 18.
 
Bethel then travels to St. Thomas on October 20 and hosts Carleton on October 25 before their showdown at the University of Northwestern on October 27. The Eagles defeated BU in Arden Hills last year, but the Royals have won five of the last seven matchups with UNW.
 
The regular season finishes with two home contests against Augsburg College and the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Should Bethel qualify, the opening round of the MIAC Playoffs is scheduled for Tuesday, October 31.