ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Bethel University volleyball team kicked off its 2019 campaign going 2-1 at the Kathryne Pals Legacy Invitational hosted by the University of Northwestern. The Royals bounced back with a three-set win over the host Eagles and a five-set victory over Buena Vista after dropping their opening match to Coe College, 3-1.

Junior Maria Claflin led the way offensively with a combined 52 kills hitting .310 for the tournament. Claflin's standout weekend was highlighted in the finale against Buena Vista where she notched a career-high 20 kills. Reigning MIAC Rookie of the Year Hannah Wilhite picked up right where she left off with 93 assists in three matches while Rylee Forshee collected 65 digs.

Bethel returns to action next Saturday at 10 a.m. where they take on Carthage College in Stevens Point, Wis. before taking on Wisconsin-Stevens Point at 2 p.m.

Coe 3, Bethel 1 (25-22, 25-17, 23-25, 29-27)
Bethel kept it close but ultimately couldn't keep up with Coe College dropping the season opener 3-1.

Emily Rossing shined bright in her Bethel debut picking up 14 kills on 25 attempts hitting .520 for the match. Claflin started the weekend out strong with 19 kills, which at the time match her career-high. 

The Royals found a way to stop the bleeding in the opening set trailing 11-5 early. Four of the next five points following a Bethel timeout went the Royals way to pull within three. BU tied it up on three different occasions as the set neared the 20s, but it was Coe taking five of the last six points, taking the opening set 25-22.

Bethel once again began digging their way out of a hole in the second set. Head coach Gretchen Hunt let the Royals ride through the choppy waters before Ellie Hoyt assisted successful attacking attempts for Claflin and Wilhite to tie it up at 11-11. Coe threw the punches right back at BU taking it 25-17.

BU found its grove in the third opening the set on a 6-2 run before Coe made a run of their own to lead 12-10. Wilhite found Claflin and Rossing down the stretch keeping Bethel within reach before Claflin was able to give the Royals a service ace taking the third set 25-23.

A marathon fourth set ensued with the teams trading off points a majority of set. Back-to-back attacking errors set the stage for a game-ending service ace giving Coe the four-set victory.

Bethel 3, RV Northwestern 0 (25-15, 25-20, 34-32)
It didn't feel like a three set victory large in part to the standing room only crowd that made its presence known inside the Ericksen Center. But Bethel hung tough down the stretch defeating Northwestern – who received votes in AVCA Top 25 preseason polls – in shutout fashion to close out its Friday evening.

Bethel went on an 8-3 run to open the first set forcing UNW to call a timeout to stop the momentum. A big block from Allie Fauth and Rossing made it 18-12 before Claflin picked up one of her 13 match kills to take the first set.

The Royals were forced to call a timeout trailing 11-6 in the second. The quick break aided BU to regroup and then string off six points in a row to take the lead. Everything looked up from there as a Macie Gavic and Rossing made their presence at the net know forcing an UNW attacking error to close out the set.

Set three went the distance, which seemed to be the theme for the Royals Friday evening. Neither team saw a lead greater than two before the Royals fended off five set points on extended rallies. Claflin and Fauth combined to score five of the Royals final nine points after the teams were knotted up at 25-25. Kelsie Sealock picked up her third service ace of the evening putting the icing on top of the cake with a 34-32 decision in the final set.

Bethel 3, Buena Vista 2 (25-15, 25-18, 20-25, 23-25, 15-10)
It didn't come easy for the Royals after jumping out to a two set lead in convincing fashion. Claflin picked up nine of her career-high 20 kills through the first two sets.

Things stayed close through the third until a hand full of Bethel attacking errors in the last four points haunted the Royals. Still in the driver's seat, BU looked to find an answer to the Buena Vista offense that awoke down the stretch.

A Bethel six point run with kills from Claflin and Wilhite was answered right back by the Beavers who took a 19-15 lead in the fourth and never looked back.

In the decisive fifth set it only seemed fitting that Claflin scored the Royals final three points with assists from Wilhite giving the Royals a 15-10 decision.