ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – Making an appearance in its sixth NCAA Tournament, the No. 21 ranked Bethel University volleyball team (22-6) opens up the Wartburg Regional against No. 22 ranked Wisconsin-Stevens Point (26-7) Friday at 12:30 p.m. The Friday-Sunday regional takes place inside Levick Arena located in the Wartburg-Waverly Sports & Wellness Center.
 
It will be the third time these two squads meet up this season after splitting in the regular season. Bethel took the first meeting in straight sets 3-0 in what was BU's second match of the season and UWSP's first.
 
The winner of all eight regionals advances to Francis Fieldhouse on the campus of Washington University in St. Louis to compete for the national crown.
 
TICKET INFORMATION
Adult $8 • Seniors $5 • Student $5 • Children (ages 3-12 yrs) $5 • Children under 2 yrs free
 
HOTEL INFORMATION FOR FANS
Best Western Plus • 205 W. 4th St. Waterloo, IA 50701 • 319-888-1000
Cobblestone Inn & Suites • 208 E. Bremer Ave Waverly, IA 50677 • (319) 352-1311
Days Inn Waterloo • 1809 LaPorte Rd Waterloo, IA 50702 • 319-427-6046
Holiday Inn & Suites Cedar Falls-Waterloo • 7400 Hudson Road Cedar Falls, IA 50613 • (319) 260-2600
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Cedar Falls-Waterloo • 1614 Technology Pkwy Cedar Falls, IA 50613

NATIONALY RANKED WARTBURG REGIONAL
• The Wartburg Regional is arguably one of the toughest with six nationally ranked teams based on the week 10 American Volleyball Coaches Association Top 25 polls. No. 3 Claremount-Mudd-Scripps and No. 4 Wartburg highlight the field while there are two opening round top 25 matches. Those matches feature No. 21 Bethel and No. 22 Wisconsin-Stevens Point as well as No. 11 Colorado College and No. 16 Ohio Northern. Aurora and Cornell are each receiving votes.

• Bethel has earned a national ranking for nine straight weeks after jumping into the No. 24 spot in week two on Sept. 14. In the final Region IX rankings, Bethel earned the No. 4 spot while boasting a .586 strength of schedule and 5-6 record against regionally ranked opponents.

ORCHESTRATING THE OFFENSE
• Hannah Wilhite has been the conductor of the Bethel offense all season appearing and starting in all 28 matches and 101 sets the Royals have played this year. Wilhite boasts a 10.62 assists per set average which ranks ninth nationally and led the MIAC. Wilhite on three separate occasions this year poured in a career-high 53 assists.

• Bethel's offense ranks 10th nationally at 13.58 kills per set and is 30th nationally with a .230 hitting percentage, which is currently tied for the program's single season record during the rally scoring era.

BLOCK PARTY!
• The Royals front row has been a wall this season tallying a MIAC-leading 207.5 blocks this year. Bethel ranks 16th nationally at 2.05 blocks per set.

• Abigail Drury leads the squads with 84 blocks and a 0.99 blocks per set average. Emily Rossing adds 80 blocks, 17 of which are solo, while Kirstin Cotter rounds out the top three with 76 blocks.


>> Click here for Bethel's full NCAA Tournament games notes