ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – The Bethel University volleyball team saw its 2019 season come to an end with a three-set loss at No. 13th-ranked Saint Benedict Tuesday evening in the MIAC Quarterfinals. The sixth-seeded Royals, who were making their sixth consecutive playoff appearance, could not hold off the third-seeded Bennies falling by scores of 25-19, 26-24, 25-17.

The Royals finish the season with a 17-11 record and were 6-5 in the MIAC.

Junior Maria Claflin led the way with 14 kills hitting .375 for the match while sophomore Hannah Wilhite added a double-double with 13 kills and 19 assists. In her final game as a Royal, senior Dominique Dabu had 16 digs while junior Allie Fauth registered a match-high 21 digs.

The teams played to an even 10-10 in the opening set before the Bennies captured five of the next six points. A timeout by the Royals at 16-12 couldn't stop Saint Ben's at the net as a pair of kills and a service ace expanded the BU deficit to six. Bethel chipped away but ultimately dropped the opening set 25-19.

Bethel opened the second on a 10-7 run forcing a CSB timeout. Out of the timeout, BU held the lead until the Bennies tied it up at 15-15. The teams would be tied on eight more occasions as Bethel fended off set point with a block from Fauth and Emily Rossing. CSB pulled out a tight set scoring the next two points on a kill and BU attacking error.

CSB set the tone in the third with a 10-3 run that the Royals could not match. Bethel cut a 10 point deficit in half at 22-17 but a pair of attacking errors from the Royals and a kill by CSB advance the Bennies into the semifinals.