WAVERLY, Iowa — The Bethel University volleyball team showed every bit of its resilience Wednesday night, grinding out a thrilling five-set victory (25–23, 25–18, 23–25, 18–25, 17–15) on the road against a strong Wartburg squad inside Levick Arena. The win pushes the Royals to 10–8 overall while maintaining momentum in the heart of MIAC play at 3–2 in conference.
From the opening serve, Bethel came ready to battle. The Royals traded points early with the Knights before pulling away late in the first set behind clean execution and back-to-back kills from Sara Scherber, sealing a narrow 25–23 win. Bethel kept that energy rolling into the second, hitting a crisp .207 as a team while holding Wartburg to a negative percentage, thanks to steady serving runs from Mattie Petersen and Lauren Hetfeld.
Wartburg responded in set three with sharp offense and efficient swings, edging the Royals 25–23 to stay alive. The Knights carried that momentum into the fourth, building an early lead that Bethel couldn't quite erase. Despite the setback, the Royals didn't waver — regrouping between sets and coming out composed and determined for the decisive fifth.
In a set packed with long rallies, momentum swings, and high-intensity defense, Bethel dug deep when it mattered most. The Royals fended off multiple match points before closing it out 17–15 on a clutch kill from Hannah Penke, sealing one of their most exciting wins of the season.
Scherber paced the offense with 17 kills, followed closely by Penke with 14 and Peyton Howie with 12. Sophia Rubio quarterbacked the offense masterfully, finishing with 43 assists, while Grace Therrien anchored the back row with 21 digs. Penke also added 20 digs for a double-double effort, while Hetfeld chipped in 8.
Defensively, the Royals' front line came up big when it counted. Howie and Chiara Houser tallied four blocks apiece, with Scherber adding three, helping hold Wartburg to a .167 hitting percentage on the night.
The victory highlights Bethel's growing consistency and late-match toughness — a hallmark of a team that's heating up at the right time.
Next up, the Royals return to MIAC play with another key matchup Friday night at Hamline, where first serve is set for 7:00 p.m. in St. Paul.
