ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – With a spot in the MIAC Playoffs on the line, the Bethel University volleyball team secured a spot in the postseason with a three-set victory over Augsburg in the season finale Friday evening inside the Robertson Center. The Royals won by scores of 25-19, 25-18, 25-17 to earn their ninth consecutive MIAC Playoff berth. They are now 11-14 on the year finishing 6-5 in conference matches.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
• The Royals came out swinging in the opening set where they hit .321 and held Augsburg to a .051 hitting percentage. BU never trailed in the set but saw five ties come midway through.
• A three-point run capped by an ace from
Taylor Barrett gave BU a 7-4 advantage.
• Augsburg tied it up later down the stretch at 11-11 and 13-13 before a four-point run by BU opened the advantage.
• Auggies miscues at the net aided a five-point run for BU to get to set point at 24-16. Augsburg would get three straight before a service error handed the Royals the set.
Second Set
• The Auggies led 7-6 until a Bethel four-point run featured a service ace from
Olivia Johnson, two kills from
Abigail Drury and one from
Dani Friedges made it 10-7 BU.
• After five ties, the Royals went on a crucial five-point run ending with back-to-back kills from Friedges that put BU on top 21-17.
• The Royals went up two sets to none scoring the set's final four points that was capped out with a kill from
Peyton Howie.
• BU hit an impressive .326 for the set with 17 kills.
Third Set
• Augsburg got out to a 6-3 with a five-point run before Bethel took it back for good at 11-8 thanks to a pair of three-point runs.
• A pair of service aces from
Brenna Stark split up by a kill from Howie opened the lead to 18-10.
• Drury put down the match-clinching kill on a long rally as BU hit .289 for the set with 16 kills.
KEY PERFORMERS
•
Dani Friedges – 15 kills, .342 hitting percentage
•
Peyton Howie – 10 kills, .429 hitting percentage
•
Brenna Stark – 36 assists, 3 service aces
•
Devanie Andre – 23 digs
UP NEXT
The Royals don't have to travel far for Monday's MIAC Quarterfinal match going to St. Catherine. First serve against the fourth-seeded Wildcats is set for 7 p.m. General admission tickets are $10 for all fans while students with ID are $2.
