ST. PAUL, Minn. – Coming off a four-set loss in its MIAC opener Friday night, the Bethel University volleyball were looking for a bounce back win Saturday at Macalester. The Royals battled with the Scots but fell in five sets by scores of 25-16, 23-25, 28-18, 19-25, 13-15.
 
Bethel hit .161 for the match with 31 attacking errors while Macalester hit .174 with 20 attacking errors. For the third straight match Bethel had double-digit service aces recording 11. Freshman setter Brenna Stark had a career-high five aces to go along with 46 assists.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED 
First Set
• The Royals came out swinging hitting .276 while holding Macalester to .000. Bethel forced the Scots into seven attacking errors while tallying one block.
• After falling behind early, BU went on a 5-0 run taking a 7-5 lead. Brenna Stark delivered a pair of aces aiding the run.
• Down the stretch neither team had a run bigger than two, but Bethel had already done the damage needed. Breanna Vermeer tallied her third kill of the set giving the Royals a 25-16 decision in the first.

Second Set
• Macalester pulled out a tight second set hitting .209 compared to the Royals .128 mark.
• The Scots opened on a 6-1 run and held a lead until a late 7-0 run for BU put the Royals on top for the first time in the set, 18-17. That large in part to three kills from Abigail Drury.
• The teams were even on four different occasions late with a Bethel service error making it 23-23.
• The Scots took it 25-23 with a pair of service aces to close out the set.

Third Set
• Dani Friedges, Peyton Howie and Marley Webb all contributed with a pair of kills as the Royals opened the third with a 9-3 lead.
• A kill by Webb gave BU its largest lead of the set at 19-11. The Scots tried to get in striking distance but Friedges ended it with a kill putting BU on top 25-18.
• The Royals hit .255 for the set.
 
Fourth Set
• Troubles at the net plagued Bethel in the fourth hitting .075 with 11 attacking errors while the Scots hit .313.
• A kill by Drury evened a close set at 17-17 before the Scots ended on an 8-3 run forcing a fifth and decisive set.
• The fourth saw 12 ties and six lead changes.
 
Fifth Set
• Macalester opened the fifth on a 5-1 run until back-to-back attacking errors down the stretch put BU up 7-6.
• Bethel was the beneficiary of a few Macalester unforced errors before the Royals had a few themselves making it 10-10.
• A kill by Friedges on Macalester's first match point gave BU a fighting change, but the Scots would get a kill on the next rally for match point.
 
KEY PERFORMERS
• Dani Friedges – 20 kills, 18 digs
• Peyton Howie – 12 kills, 4 blocks
• Devanie Andre – 22 digs
 
UP NEXT
The Royals look to snap their four-match losing skid next Saturday, Sept. 30 hosting Carleton for Homecoming. First serve is set for 7 p.m. inside the Robertson Center.



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