SAINT PETER, Minn. – The No. 25 nationally ranked Gustavus Adolphus College volleyball team battled the Bethel University Royals on the road Saturday night in a conference contest. The Gusties powered their way to a 3-0 sweep of the Royals to move to 18-5 overall and 4-1 in the MIAC.
Gustavus trailed 5-4 early in the first until a 5-0 run gave the Gusties a 9-5 lead. The Royals rallied to draw within one down 12-11, but then a 7-2 run by Gustavus put the Gusties up 19-13. The two teams traded points back-and-forth until Gustavus reached set point up 24-18. A kill by
Leah Berg clinched the set for the Gusties 25-18.
Set two was tied 17-17 until Bethel won three in a row to go up 20-17. Gustavus responded by winning eight of the next nine points to take the set 25-21 and go up 2-0 in the match.
Tied at 13-13 in set three, the Gusties went on a 6-1 run to go up 19-14. The Royals responded by winning four in a row to cut the Gustavus lead down to just one, up 19-18. The Gusties then closed the match on a 6-2 run to take the set 25-20 and the match 3-0.
Logan Brent led the Gusties with 15 kills for 5.0 kills per set on .270 hitting.
Sahara Morken orchestrated the offense with 43 assists for an average of 14.33 assists per set.
Maren Sundberg led the defensive effort with 21 digs.
Up next for the Gusties is a return to Saint Peter for a home game against the Carleton College Knights on Wednesday, October 22 at 7:00 p.m.
