WAVERLY, Iowa – From the very start it was apparent the No. 21 ranked Bethel University volleyball team was ready for the big stage taking on No. 22 Wisconsin-Stevens Point for the third time this season. The Royals led early and often sweeping the Pointers in straight sets by scores of 25-17, 25-20, 25-21.
Junior opposite
Kirstin Cotter led the way with 13 kills hitting .417 for the afternoon.
Emily Rossing wasn't too far behind with nine kills and three blocks.
Hannah Wilhite dished out 30 assists while
Allie Fauth poured in a match-high 17 digs.
An explosive opening set for the Royals saw them hit .353 with 15 kills on 34 swings and only three errors. BU jumped out of the gates with a 4-0 run that started on back-to-back kills from Cotter. Late down the stretch three service aces from Wimmer expanded BU's lead 11-5. Put an additional four blocks in there with a pair of Bethel four-point runs and BU came away with a big opening set win 25-17.
Despite only 11 kills for the Royals in set two, they forced the Pointers into 10 attacking errors while recording three blocks. There were 12 ties in the set until a UWSP attacking error gave BU the lead for the remainder of the way. The Pointers used a timeout at 17-15 trying to pause the BU momentum but it was to no avail as
Emily Rossing put down the set clinching kill where the Royals scored five of the final six points.
Set three was just as close to begin with 11 ties and two lead changes. Tied at 7-7 the teams traded off points until the Pointers tallied two in a row taking a 13-12 lead. A kill by Wilhite kick started a six-point run that finished with a service ace from
Danielle Friedges. The Pointers fought their way back to within one at 22-21. The Royals then scored the final three points securing a spot in the second round on Saturday.
The Royals appear in the Wartburg Regional semifinals Saturday at 2:30 p.m. where they will take on No. 3 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps who sports a 28-1 record on the season.
