WINONA, Minn. – For the seventh consecutive season the Bethel University volleyball team will appear in the MIAC Playoffs clinching one of the six spots with a three-set victory at Saint Mary's Saturday evening. The No. 23-ranked Royals stayed in a three-way tie for first in the MIAC standings at 8-1 winning by scores of 25-20, 25-17, 25-21.
 
Hitting .310 for the match, Bethel was paced by 15 kills from Kirstin Cotter and 10 kills from Allie Fauth following her career-high 19 at Augsburg Friday night. Hannah Wilhite added 37 assists while Kelsie Sealock had a match-high 14 digs.
 
After giving up the matches opening point, Bethel kick started the night with a 10-3 advantage. For a while Bethel kept at minimum a four-point advantage getting it to as large as nine with a kill from Cotter. The Cardinals made it 23-20 before a kill from Cotter and a SMU bad set gave the opener to the Royals.
 
A 20-kill second set saw the Royals hit .410 with five kills from both Fauth and Danielle Friedges. Once again Bethel pulled away early with an 8-2 lead. The Cardinals pulled within 11-10. The Royals rode some shaky waters with no panic and three straight points. Back-to-back kills from Cotter and Friedges would put the Royals up two sets.
 
Saint Mary's scored the first three points of the third, but Bethel came soaring back tying it three times in the early stages. A kill by Emily Rossing gave BU the lead for the remainder of the night while Cotter put on the finishes touches with a block followed by a kill clinching the victory for then navy and vegas gold.  
 
The Royals hit the road Tuesday for a top-25 clash at No. 5 Wartburg for the final non-conference match of the regular season. BU returns home next Friday and Saturday closing out the regular season against Macalester and Hamline respectively.