ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – In a battle of what would be the final two teams into the MIAC Playoffs if the tournament started today, the Bethel University volleyball team dropped a three-set decision to the No. 1 Central Region team in St. Olaf, 3-0. The Oles had a strong presence at the net scoring 46 of its 56 points on successful attacking attempts winning by scores of 25-19, 25-19, 25-22.

Dropping their fourth straight match, the Royals fall to 15-9 on the year and 4-4 in the MIAC. BU has its hands full once again hosting No. 13th-ranked Augsburg tomorrow at 3 p.m.

Six different Royals put a tally in the kill column led by juniors Allie Fauth and Macie Gavic who each had six respectively. Defensively, Fauth had a team-high 12 digs while junior Maria Claflin tallied four blocks.

There were nine ties in the opening set but an 8-0 run by the Oles midway through got them to a 20-11 lead. St. Olaf used 15 kills compared to Bethel's eight taking the first set hitting .262.

The Oles offense didn't slow down jumping out to an 11-2 lead in the second set. A pair of 5-0 runs by the Royals got them within 21-15. Bethel found a bit of a rhythm with two of its final three points coming on successful attacking attempts but it wasn't enough.

Bethel had its offensive set in the third hitting .206 but of course St. Olaf didn't cool down. The Oles hit .324 and knocked down 17 kills in the final set compared to Bethel's 11 kills. The Royals stayed much closer never trailing by more than three in a set that saw seven ties.