ARDEN HILLS, Minn. — What. A. Night.
 
Bethel University's volleyball team hosted No. 10-ranked Gustavus Adolphus College in a packed Robertson Center Gym this evening and fans in attendance got their entire money's worth. The Royals (10-2, 2-1 MIAC) and the Gusties (13-2, 2-1 MIAC)—a rematch of the 2016 and 2015 MIAC championship—battled to five sets, but in the end it was BU that outlasted GAC 3-2. As a result, head coach Gretchen Hunt was rewarded with a very memorable 300th win.
 
Bethel trailed 11-16 in the opening set, but clawed their way back to a 21-21 tie. Gustavus went up 22-21, but back to back GAC errors—one service and one hitting—put the Royals in the driver's seat where they eventually crossed the finish line with a 28-26 win.
 
BU led throughout nearly the entire second set, but a 4-1 run for the Gusties near the end put GAC ahead 21-20 late. The Royals spewed off a 3-0 run after a timeout and closed the frame with a 25-23 victory.
 
Gustavus didn't bat an eye despite trailing 0-2. The Gusties stormed out in the third set and grabbed a 6-2 lead, which led to an 18-12 advantage midway through the frame. Bethel never quit, however, amassing an 11-6 run, but a BU attack attempt that missed by six inches at 24-23 extended the match for GAC.
 
The Gusties generated momentum following the third set and rolled to a 25-18 victory in the fourth, which set up a decisive fifth set.
 
Bethel began the fifth on a 5-2 run and later pushed their lead to 12-6, which allowed the Royals to complete the upset over nationally-ranked Gustavus.
 
BU generated 80.0 points on 63 kills, two aces, and 15 blocks, while Gustavus finished with 84.0 points on 72 kills, six aces, and six blocks. The Royals manufactured 62 assists and 91 digs, opposed to the Gusties who composed 71 assists and 90 digs.
 
Tina Hoppe led Bethel with 14 kills and 15 digs, while Brooke Olstad was equally good with 11 kills and 19 digs. Kristin Stern amassed 13 kills and three blocks, while Maria Claflin had her best performance in conference play with 10 kills, two block assists, and a .444 hitting percentage. Karin Canakes also contributed six kills and seven block assists, while Macie Gavic recorded nine kills.
 
Dominique Dabu posted 22 digs from the back row, while Mikayla Morrow logged a team-high 30 assists and nine digs. Bailey Israelson was right behind with 27 assists and 10 digs.
 
Bethel returns to action next Wednesday, September 27, when they travel down Snelling Avenue to face Hamline University. The MIAC battle between the Royals and Pipers is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.