Volleyball falls to Bethel

Hamline (9-3, 1-1 MIAC) and Bethel (10-2, 2-0 MIAC) were even in nearly all statistical categories, including wins and losses, entering the match. The Pipers took control early in the first game, quickly building up a 7-3 lead. The Royals fired back, capitalizing on some key kills by senior Liz Glesne (Underwood, Minn.) and sporadic Piper errors. The Royals took the first game 30-25, and then followed up by winning the second game by the same score, only allowing the Pipers to take a one-point lead once at 12-11.

In the third game, Hamline showed signs of life early, with kills coming from senior Shelby Hyllengren (Cannon Falls, Minn.) and sophomore Tasha Simmons (Eagan, Minn.) that combined with setting errors from Bethel to get the Pipers the lead. Once again, however, the Royals came back on the arms of Glesne and sophomore Stephanie Schmidt (Montgomery, Minn.), finishing the match by winning the third game 30-24.  Glesne and Schmidt both tallied 13 kills in the match.

The Pipers were led offensively by Simmons, who had a match-high 18 kills on 53 attempts. Defensively, first-year Heidi Larsen (Andover, Minn.) had 20 digs, while four other Pipers also were in the double-digits in digs.

Hamline travels to Gustavus Adolphus College on Saturday to take on Buena Vista at 11:00 a.m. and Northwestern at 1:00 p.m.

Hamline University belongs to the NCAA Division III Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, one of the most competitive conferences in the nation. Hamline supports 19 intercollegiate athletic teams for men and women. Find out more about Hamline athletics at www.hamline.edu/hamline_info/athletics.

Creative and innovative teaching and learning attract a diverse student body of nearly 4,600 undergraduate and graduate students to Hamline University. Challenged to create and apply knowledge in local and global contexts, Hamline students develop an individual and community ethic of social justice, civic responsibility, and inclusive leadership and service.

Ranked first in Minnesota among comprehensive master’s universities by U.S.News & World Report, Hamline is also Minnesota’s first university, founded in 1854, and among the first co-educational institutions in the nation.