ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – The Gustavus volleyball team faced its biggest conference test to date on Saturday, matching up with the Bethel Royals, who entered the match with just one conference loss and an 18-7 overall record. The Gusties (19-9, 10-0 MIAC) were up to the challenge, though, dealing the Royals (18-8, 8-2 MIAC) a 3-0 sweep, featuring a 27-25 come-from-behind set two win, to maintain the top spot in the conference and clinch at least a share of the MIAC title. 

Both teams exchanged points through the first few serves in the first set, each taking turns with the lead, until a 9-6 Gustie run set the tone in the Robertson Center. Kills from four different Gusties gave them their first significant lead of the day at 13-8, forcing a Bethel timeout. The Royals cut the lead to two, but the Gusties already had the upper hand, closing set one out with an 11-6 run, getting four consecutive points with Brynn Smith (Sr., Brooklyn Park, Minn.) on the serve. Leah Berg (Jr., Kenyon, Minn.), who had a highly efficient match the night before, picked up right where she left off, compiling four first set kills, including the final point, with an efficiency of .667 to close out the 25-18 set one win. 

The Royals proved just why they're a threat in the conference this season in the second set, holding the lead for much of the play and matching the Gusties' 18 kills with 18 of their own to keep pace with the visitors. Gustavus held the early lead, fending off the Royals' attacks until they tied the score at 8-8 off a Gustie attack error. Bethel used the momentum to take and hold the lead, building it to as many as four before a Macie Malchow (Fy., Sioux Falls, S.D.) kill and subsequent BU error evened the score again at 17-17. Both teams played to a tie score five more times before the end of the set, but three kills in a row, and two from Berg, ended the marathon 27-25 in favor of the Gusties. 

The set two result dashed the Royals' hopes, as the Gusties emerged with all the energy in set three, never trailing and leading by as many as eight. Once again with Smith on the serve, the Gusties separated themselves from Bethel, claiming six unanswered points, two of which came from Sophia Deyak (So., Iowa City, Iowa) and Kasie Tweet (5th, Adrian, Minn.) blocks. The Royals struggled to catch up, and ultimately fell victim to the play of MIAC Athlete of the Week Tweet, who delivered the final blow with a service ace to sweep Bethel on its home court with a 25-19 set three win. 

The Gustie attack was efficient once again, hitting .336 as a team with four players above .350 for the second night in a row. Berg led the offense with 12 kills and a clip of .440, while Lauren Klaith (5th, Rockford, Minn.) posted 11 while hitting .370. Maren Sundberg (Jr., Eagan, Minn.) led the defense with 17 digs, followed by Smith with 10.

Tweet was unstoppable in a career night for the fifth-year, as she surpassed the all-time program record for assists set by Nora Holtan '19. With 37 against Bethel, Tweet now has 4,541 in her career and 1,001 this season, marking the fourth year in a row she has eclipsed the 1,000-assist mark. She added six kills, four service aces, two block assists, and eight digs on an already impressive night. 

The Gusties have just one conference match remaining in their season, hosting St. Catherine (19-7, 9-1 MIAC) next Saturday for Senior Night and a chance at another undefeated MIAC season and the outright regular season title. 

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