ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – A strong night at the net for the Bethel University volleyball team, where they hit .302, led the Royals to a three-set season-opening victory over the University of Minnesota-Morris (25-19, 25-11, 25-22) in front of a rocking Robertson Center.
 
Junior opposite hitter Kirstin Cotter led the squad with 14 kills while right behind her was junior Emily Rossing with 10. Allie Fauth had a strong serve with four service aces.
 
A tight opening set that was tied at 9-9 eventually turned into a 14-11 lead for Morris before BU rallied back where a kill by Danielle Friedges gave them a 17-16 advantage. Riding the serve of Rylee Forshee, the Royals advantage opened up to five before Cotter put down the set-winning kills.
 
Cotter picked up steam in the second set where six of her 14 kills came. Three straight kills by Cotter came on during a BU seven-point run turning an 17-10 lead into 24-11. Cotter put one last kill down giving the Royals the second set 25-11. BU had one lone attacking error in 30 attempts.
 
Feeding off the energy from a rocking Robertson Center crowd, Bethel shared the wealth in set three where six different players tallied a kill. The two squads were tied 12 different times before a kill from Emily Rossing gave BU a 21-20 advantage and the final lead change of the night.
 
Hannah Wilhite put the finishing touches on a one-handed dump-set on the second ball finding the floor just inside the back corner.  
 
BU is back in action Friday evening at the Kathryne Pals Legacy Invitational hosted by Northwestern. The Royals open up against Wisconsin-Stevens Point at 5 p.m. before taking on the hosts and No. 20-ranked Northwestern at 7 p.m.