ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – The Bethel University volleyball team got the job done Saturday night earning the No. 6 seed in the MIAC Playoffs with a four-set victory over St. Catherine. The Royals are set to take on No. 3-seeded Saint Benedict (22-4, 8-3 MIAC) in St. Joseph, Minn. First serve is slated for 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Bethel is making its sixth consecutive appearance in the MIAC Playoffs which is tied for the longest current active streak in the conference with Gustavus Adolphus.

MIAC PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
Quarterfinals | Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019 | 7:00 p.m.
No. 6 seed at No. 3 Saint Benedict
No. 5 Gustavus at No. 4 Augsburg
 
Semifinals | Thursday, Nov. 7, 2019 | 7:00 p.m.
No. 4/5 seed at No. 1 St. Thomas
No. 3/6 seed at No. 2 St. Olaf
 
Championship | Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019 | 7:00 p.m.
Highest remaining seed will host
 
MIAC PLAYOFF HISTORY
The Royals are making their 13th overall MIAC Playoff appearance and eighth in the last nine seasons. Bethel is 12-13 all-time and 0-2 versus Saint Ben's in the MIAC Playoffs. It is the second time the Royals have been the No. 6 seed and ironically enough the last time they were, which was in 2005, they faced Saint Ben's in the quarterfinals where they were defeated 3-1.

WEAPONS AT THE NET
Junior Maria Claflin is a force to be reckoned with averaging 3.52 kills per set which ranks third in the MIAC. For the season she had 345 kills and has had a double-digit kill effort in 21 of her 26 matches this year. Claflin also leads the team in solo blocks with 13 while her total of 77 is second best behind Emily Rossing's team-leading 87.

Junior Macie Gavic is picking up stride at the right time. With a team second-best 210 kills she averages 2.53 kills per set to go along with 44 blocks. Gavic is coming off one of her best weeks of the season which started with a career-high 19 kills at Concordia last Wednesday. She went on to tally 12 kills and hit .423 in the win against St. Kate's.

VERSATILE WILHITE
Reigning Rookie of the Year Hannah Wilhite has not slowed down playing this year has both a setter and a hitter. With 683 assists, she also adds a threat at the night with 193 kills while hitting .240 for the year. Playing the role of setter when Wilhite attacks is Ellie Hoyt who has tallied 442 assists.


DIG IT OUT DOM
Senior Dominique Dabu has been all over the court as the Royals defensive specialist. The Apple Valley, Minn. native has been consistent on the defensive side of the net with 437 digs that ranks as the fifth most in the MIAC. Averaging 5.32 digs per set she also holds a 93.1 receive percentage.

SERIES HISTORY
The Royals are 12-19 all-time against Saint Benedict and are looking to snap a four-match losing streak to the Bennies. Earlier this season the two teams met in Arden Hills to open up conference play where the Royals took the No. 8th ranked team at the time to five sets. BU took sets two and three after dropping the first. CSB took the fourth 25-19 before narrowly edging the Royals in the fifth 17-15.  In St. Joseph the Royals are 2-10 all time.