MINNEAPOLIS – The No. 23-ranked Bethel University volleyball team came out on top in a back-and-forth five-set MIAC clash at Augsburg University Friday evening. Behind a career-high 19 kills from Allie Fauth, Bethel moves one step closer to a spot in the MIAC Playoffs winning by scores of 25-23, 23-25, 25-21, 25-27, 15-12.

The Royals head three players record a double-double with Fauth completing the feat with 16 digs. Hannah Wilhite matched a career-high 53 assists to go along with 16 digs while Danielle Friedges added 12 kills and 16 digs. Abigail Drury was a brick wall matching a career-high seven blocks.

BU had its best offensive performance in the opening set hitting .268 with 16 kills on 41 swings and minimal five errors. Emily Rossing's only kill of the set, before she went on finishing with 10 for the night, gave the set its 10th and final tie before an Augsburg attacking error gave the Royals a lead the rest of the way. Augsburg kept it close fending off three BU set points before Friedges put down the set winning kill.

Despite opening the second set with a 5-1 advantage, BU dropped a close 25-23 decision after nine ties and seven lead changes. In the third, BU led from the opening serve where they opened on a 6-0 run. The Royals never allowed the Auggies any closer than three points as a kill by Fauth put BU up two sets to one.

An eight-point run for Augsburg in the fourth erased a 17-12 Bethel lead. BU fought back earning match point before Auggies closed with three straight points.

The excitement carried into the fifth as BU came out swinging with a 4-1 lead. Like the entire night Augsburg didn't go away easily sending Bethel scrambling and out of sync on a few occasions. Augsburg took back the lead at 8-6 before back-to-back kills from Fauth tied it up. At 14-9 Augsburg could only fend off the Royals for three points until Kirstin Cotter finished her 18 kill night giving Bethel the victory. 

Bethel, now 18-4 overall and 7-1 in MIAC play, travels to Winona tomorrow night facing off against Saint Mary's at 7 p.m. A win for the Royals over the Cardinals and they are in!