ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – Three different Royals reached double digit kill efforts including sophomore Hannah Wilhite who record a career-high 19 kills as the Bethel University volleyball team dropped a five-set thriller to the No. 8 ranked College of Saint Benedict. A wild one down the stretch, Bethel came out on the wrong end of an exciting fifth set as CSB took it by scores of 25-18, 21-25, 23-25, 25-19, 17-15 Wednesday night inside the Robertson Center. 

Junior Maria Claflin added 17 kills hitting .325 for the match while freshman Kelsie Sealock tallied 14 kills. Junior Ellie Hoyt had the perfect touch recording a season-high 44 assists. Dropping its third straight five set match, Bethel falls to 5-5 on the year and 0-1 in MIAC play. The Royals head to Pella, Iowa this weekend participating in the Central Invite where they take on UW-River Falls, Wartburg College, North Central College and Alverno College.

After surrendering the first two points of the fifth, Bethel used the strong presence of Claflin and Wilhite at the net jumping back on top 4-2. A heads up play by Dominque Dabu let a CSB serve fly right over her head and out before a kill from Sealock made it 10-7. CSB went on to tie it up three times down the stretch before Bethel was in control with match point. CSB went back to a pair of the nation's leading attackers in Madison and Hunter Weiss creating match point for themselves. Bethel fended off match point with a kill form Wilhite but a service error and then a kill by Hunter Weiss denied the Royals an upset victory.

CSB came in and took the opening set of the MIAC season 25-21. Bethel showed no panic playing its game in the second. The Royals forced a timeout from CSB after back-to-back aces by Hoyt put BU up 14-11. Bethel continued to set Sealock who put down three of the Royals final four kills in their 25-21 set two victory.

Bethel never trailed in the third despite Saint Ben's tying it up twice late in the set. Bethel held the serve with set point forcing an attacking error followed by a CSB ball handling error taking the third 25-23. CSB played like a nationally ranked top 10 team in the fourth. They outhit the Royals .262 to .056 forcing the fifth and decisive set.