Finishing the regular season with a pair of straight-set victories, the Bethel University volleyball team looks to keep its winning ways going as the fourth seed in the MIAC Playoffs. The Royals earned a home playoff match where they host fifth-seeded Saint Benedict Tuesday evening inside the Robertson Center.
The Royals are encouraging all fans to wear their white Bethel gear for a WHITEOUT in the Robertson Center. BU students will also receive
FREE admission with their Bethel ID
MIAC PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
Quarterfinals | Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022 |
No. 6 Augsburg at No. 3 St. Catherine | 7:00 PM
No. 5 Saint Benedict at No. 4 Bethel | 7:00 PM
Semifinals | Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022 |
No. 4/5 at No. 1 Gustavus | 7:00 PM
No. 3/6 at No. 2 St. Olaf | 7:00 PM
Championship | Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022 |
Highest remaining seed hosts | 7:00 PM
ROYALS IN THE MIAC PLAYOFFS
BU is making its 15th overall appearance in the MIAC Playoffs and is eighth consecutive appearance. The Royals are 13-15 all-time in playoff history after making a run to the MIAC Championship last season where they fell to Gustavus 3-1.
Against Saint Benedict in playoff matches the Royals and Bennies are even at 2-2 overall. The last time BU and CSB met in the postseason was in 2015 where BU won the semifinal match 3-1.
It will be the third time BU plays as the four seed. When they hold that seed in tournament, they are 1-2.
AGAINST THE OPPOSITION
Tuesday's matchup will be the 26th meeting all time between the Royals and Bennies. BU is on a three-match winning streak on CSB having picked up three straight sweeps. One of those three-set victories came earlier this season on Sept. 28 in Arden Hills.
All set scores where within a three-point margin while BU hit .245 compared to the Bennies .182. Cotter paced the way with a match-high 18 kills.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
Bethel's front row is nearly a brick wall averaging 2.03 blocks per set which ranks second in the MAIC and 26th nationally. Their 12.82 kills per set ranks second in the conference and is 32nd nationally.
Graduate student
Hannah Wilhite averages 9.47 assists per set ranking third in the MIAC and 32nd nationally. She's orchestrated the BU offense to a .213 hitting percentage that ranks third in the league. Wilhite is not afraid to take a swing here or there collecting 133 kills with a .327 hitting percentage.
Senior opposite Kiristin Cotter has collected 348 kills this season, the most in the MIAC, and averages 3.74 a set. Cotter is hitting .237 for the year and adds 52 blocks on the defensive side of things.
