ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – The Bethel University volleyball team put together a dominating performance in their first conference match of the season against Saint Mary's University. The Royals (7-2) swept the Cardinals (6-2) 3-0 by final scores of 25-15, 25-22, and 25-17.
 
BU started the first set off strong leading the Cardinals with a 5-0 run to go up 10-3. This was just the beginning as the Royals continued to stay ahead in the set and ended it with a 25-15 score. SMU put up a fight in the second set by coming back 15-16 but BU did not let up and went on to win set two. Set three was close the whole way as the Cardinals tied it up early on at 6-6. BU continued to fight and ended up staying in front of SMU the rest of the match and came out with a 25-17 win in set three.
 
The Royals amassed 57 points on 45 kills, three aces, and nine blocks, while also generating 43 assists and 69 digs. Tina Hoppe had a great evening finishing with 15 kills and three blocks. Brooke Olstad composed 13 digs, nine kills, and two assists. Rylee Forshee and Dominique Dabu also tallied up 18 and 15 digs each. Hannah Wilhite led the team in a stellar 40 assists.
 
The Royals will be staying in Arden Hills this weekend as they start the Bethel Invitational to take on the University of Wisconsin – Superior at 5 p.m. and the College of St. Scholastica at 7 p.m. on Friday evening in the Robertson Center.