ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – The Bethel University volleyball team earned its first MIAC win of the season in dominant fashion Wednesday night, sweeping Carleton College in straight sets, 25-18, 25-19, 25-15, at Robertson Center Gym. The Royals improved to 7-7 overall (1-1 MIAC) with the victory.

Bethel hit an impressive .378 as a team and never trailed in the match, showcasing efficiency on both sides of the ball. Sophomore Peyton Howie led the charge offensively with 11 kills and added 5 blocks, providing a major presence at the net. Senior Sara Scherber chipped in 10 kills, while Eleanor Pelzel added 9 kills on just 13 swings for a blistering .615 hitting percentage.

Setting the tone for the offense was Sophia Rubio, who dished out 32 assists, guiding the Royals to their most efficient offensive outing of the season.

Defensively, Olivia Johnson paced the back row with 9 digs and served up 2 aces, while Grace Therrien added 7 digs and 2 more aces in a well-rounded effort. Bethel also recorded 6 team blocks, helping hold Carleton (2-14, 0-3 MIAC) to just a .082 hitting percentage.

The Royals hit their stride in Set 2, firing at a .452 clip with no attacking errors, and closed out the sweep with a 16-kill third set to seal the match.

Up Next:
Bethel heads to Concordia-Moorhead for a MIAC showdown on Saturday at 3 p.m.