ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – Party like it's 1999! Of course, 1999 being the first year the Bethel University volleyball team claimed a MIAC regular season title. But 22 years later and for the third time in program history, the first since 2001, the Royals are earned a share of the MIAC regular season championship crown with a thrilling five set victory over Hamline, 25-19, 25-22, 21-25, 21-25, 16-14.
No. 20th-ranked Bethel (21-5, 10-1 MIAC) enters the MIAC Playoffs as the two seed after Gustavus Adolphus, also 10-1 in the MIAC, held the head-to-head tiebreaker. The 10-conference wins matches a program-best mark which the Royals accomplished back in 2001.
Kirstin Cotter led the Royals with 22 kills hitting .263 for the night.
Hannah Wilhite conducting the Bethel offense that hit .154 with 44 assists.
Kelsie Sealock was a defensive machine digging out 32 attacks while
Allie Fauth had 26 digs. Danielle Freidges completed a double-double with 14 kills and 12 digs.
The Royals came out of the gates swinging putting down 17 kills and hitting .417 in the opening set. Bethel trailed 9-4 before going on a seven-point run to take its first lead of the night. The Pipers pulled within one but a five-point run set up BU for set point where Cotter put down one of her seven kills in the set.
BU worked from behind again in the second trailing 10-4 before a four point run down the stretch gave them back the lead. Hamline responded with a run of its own going up four but the Royals took it right back. Hamline fended off two set points before Fauth put down the set clinching kill.
Hamline battled its way to a third set victory hitting .200 while holding BU to a mere .070 where they had eight attacking errors. Bethel opened the fourth with a 5-0 advantage holding a lead for most of the set until the Pipers stormed back once again. Scoring the sets final four points after being tied 21-21 it was off to a fifth and decisive set.
A three-point run gave BU an 8-5 lead before the Pipers clawed back in it making it even at 10. Four straight from Bethel gave them match point before the Pipers responded with fourt straight of their own.
A service error by Hamline followed with a match-winning kill from Cotter as the Royals stormed the court while exhaling a sigh of relief.
The Royals host the MIAC semifinals next Friday at 7 p.m. against the winner of No. 3 Hamline versus No. 6 Saint Benedict quarterfinal matchup.
