After a 19-8 regular season that defied expectations, the Bethel University volleyball team entered the MIAC playoffs Tuesday night as the third seed. The Royals hosted St. Olaf College in the Robertson Center Gym, whom they bested in five sets in their first conference match of the season.
The Royals rode that momentum, winning each of their first six MIAC matchups, before losing three of the next four. They relied on a four-set road victory over Augsburg on the final day of the regular season to secure a home playoff game.
It was a sluggish first set for the Royals, as they quickly found themselves down 5-1 and chasing. Unable to get an attack going, the St. Olaf defense held Bethel in check by allowing just a .143 hitting percentage in the opening set. A 9-0 Ole run all but sealed it as the Royals dug themselves an 11-point hole, dropping the opening set 25-14.
After surrendering the opening set, the Royals regrouped, looking to the final game of the regular season in which they dropped the first set against Augsburg for inspiration.
“We did talk about that a little, this was the same as Augsburg,” Bethel head coach Gretchen Hunt said. “We’re trying too hard to implement a game plan, rather than just taking what they’re giving us.”
Bethel settled in, getting off to a fast start opening set two with a trio of Grace Solberg-kills to take a 7-4 lead. A 7-2 run and a pair of big Solberg swings opened a 15-9 advantage, with the Royals going on to take the set 25-26, evening up the match at one apiece.
After each side set the tone with decisive victories in sets one and two, play tightened in set three. Both teams traded blows early in the first set, with Solberg tying it at five with a kill. From there the Oles grabbed a 10-6 lead. Down 12-10, the Royals responded emphatically, putting together a 8-1 run, with Solberg continuing to add on, collecting three more kills for a 18-13 Bethel lead.
The Oles answered back, tying the game late and taking a 24-22 lead to get to set point. Mattie Petersen tied it at 24 with an ace.
Solberg kept the Royals alive once more, tying the game at 28 and 29 with a pair of big swings. Even playing back row after the Royals ran out of substitutions –something she hadn’t done all year.
“She’s just not as comfortable with that movement, but she’s practiced it,” Hunt said. “So I knew she could do it if she got the chance.”
By the time it was all said and done, the two teams scored a combined 64 points, with the Royals outlasting the Oles by a score of 33-31. They nabbed the third set, placing them in the driver’s seat up 2-1 in the match.
Bethel built on that momentum seizing control of the match by opening up a 12-4 lead in set four and never giving it back. They took the fourth set by a score of 25-21 and the match 3-1 to advance to the MIAC semifinals for the first time since 2021.
After dropping their regular season matchup in five sets, the Royals head into St. Paul for a rematch with St. Catherine’s University for a semifinal game on Thursday night.
