ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – The Bethel University volleyball team opened the Bethel Invitational this Friday night with back-to-back wins against University of Wisconsin – Superior with scores of 25-22, 25-20, and 25-15 and the College of Saint Scholastica by scores of 25-18, 25-16, and 25-22.
The Royals started the first set against UW-Superior with a 5-0 run giving them a solid lead. Superior put up a good fight, but the Royals fought right back ending the set with a 25-22 score. Bethel and Superior were tied up in the beginning of the second set but a major block at the net kicked off yet another 5-0 run for the Royals ending the set 25-20. Set three began in back and forth fashion but a big kill half way through jumpstarted the Royals to win the set 25-15.
BU amassed 57 points on 35 kills, nine aces, and 13 blocks, while also accumulating 35 assists and 54 digs.
Maria Claflin had 11 kills while
Tina Hoppe totaled 10 kills and three blocks.
Hannah Wilhite contributed 32 assists and nine digs. Karin Cancakes stacked up 10 blocks and
Dominique Dabu rallied up 18 digs.
The Royals then took on College of Saint Scholastica and did not waste time by kicking of the first set with a hefty kill leading them to a 25-18 win. Bethel fell behind in the beginning of the second set but did not let that stop them as mid-way through they went on a 6-0 run to give them a strong boost to take the set 25-16. Set three started forceful with a 5-0 run to give the Royals a substantial 20-9 lead halfway through the set. The Saints then came up from the bottom to bring the score to 24-22 but a powerful kill by the Royals gave them the 25-22 victory.
Bethel added up a total of 62 points supported by 47 kills, three aces, and 12 blocks at the same time gaining 46 assists and 53 digs.
Tina Hoppe compiled 12 kills, 10 digs, and two assists.
Brooke Olstad also had 12 kills and four blocks.
Hannah Wilhite added an impressive 36 assists while
Dominique Dabu gathered 14 digs.
Bethel volleyball will return to the Robertson Center Saturday to play against Luther College at 11 a.m. and University of Wisconsin – Stout at 1 p.m.
