SAINT PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus Adolphus College volleyball team hosted the Bethel University Royals on Saturday for a conference match. The Gusties fell 3-1 to the Royals in the match, moving to 11-9 overall and 4-3 in the MIAC.
Gustavus jumped out to a 7-3 lead early in the opening set. The Royals won six of the next eight points to tie the match at 9-9. The two teams battled neck-and-neck until the Gusties took a 19-18 lead. At that point, Bethel caught fire, winning seven of the next eight points to take the first set 25-20 to go up 1-0 in the match.
The Royals started the second set strong, winning the first five points and taking seven-point lead up 11-4. Bethel built their lead up to 10 points at 19-9 when Gustavus started to rally. The Gusties went on a 7-1 run to climb back to within four points of the Royals at 20-16. The two teams then traded three-point runs to make it 23-19. Bethel reached set point at 24-19, and though Gustavus fought off two set points, the Royals took the set 25-21 to go up 2-0.
In the third set, the Gusties fell behind 7-3 early. Gustavus cut Bethel's lead down to two at 9-7, but the Royals took the next three points to build their lead back up to five at 12-7. Bethel went up by eight at 20-12 when the tide turned and the Gusties took the momentum for the rest of the set. Gustavus won the next five points to make it 20-17. The Royals found some footing again and reached set point up 24-21, but then the Gusties rattled off five points in a row, staving off two match points, to rally and take the set 26-24 and make the match 2-1.
Bethel led 6-4 early in the fourth until Gustavus caught fire with a 9-1 run to take a 13-7 lead. The Gusties still led by six up 21-15 later in the set, but then the Royals won six in a row to tie the set up at 21-21. Gustavus reached set point first up 24-23, but Bethel won the next two points to reach match point for themselves up 25-24. The Gusties won the next point to tie the match up at 25-25, but the Royals took the following two to take the set 27-25 and the match 3-1.
Logan Brent led the way for Gustavus with 17 kills on .244 hitting.
Sophia Deyak followed with 15 kills on .423 hitting.
Sahara Morken and Mavie Malchow orchestrated the Gusties' attack, recording 25 and 17 assists respectively.
Ava Hahn led the Gustavus defensive performance with 27 digs.
Up next for the Gusties is the Dig Panici Classic hosted by UW-Whitewater. Gustavus will compete in three matches at the invite, starting with back-to-back matches against North Central and the host Warhawks on Friday, October 23 starting at 5:00 p.m.
