The UWRF volleyball team earned a split on the final day of the Bethel University Tournament.  The Falcons opened with a 3-1 victory over Martin Luther College.  In the second game, the Falcons fell 3-1 to host school, Bethel.

In the first match against Martin Luther, the Falcons won games one and two, 25-19 and 25-15, before the Knights came back to take the third set, 25-22.  UWRF closed the door on the match with a no-doubt 25-12 victory.

Erin Green (Fridley, MN, Fridley) led all players with 19 kills, which is a season high for the junior middle-hitter.  Green was one of three Falcons with double-digit kills. 

Jean Theis (Shakopee, MN, Shakopee) and Danielle Gibbemeyer (St. Paul, MN, Cretin-Derham Hall) added 12 kills each to aid the Falcons, who pounded out 59 kills throughout the match. The Falcons finished the second game with a .469 kill percentage.

Hayley Buchanan (Eden Prairie, MN, Eden Prairie) and Mackenzie Suda (Ham Lake, MN, Blaine) poured in the assists for the offensive attack.  Suda had 24, and Buchanan, 23.

Courtney Preiner (Oakdale, MN, Hill-Murray) added 25 digs to lead the Falcons.

The Falcons are now 4-0 all-time against Martin Luther.

The Falcons fell in the second match 3-1 to Bethel College.  The Falcons could measure improvement though, as the Royals had beaten UWRF 3-0 back on Sept. 2.

The Royals took game one 25-23 before the Falcons came back to even the score with a 25-22 victory in game two.  Bethel, however, would take the next two games 25-17 and 25-19 to garner the match win.

Green continued her great day by slamming 18 kills, bringing her day total to 37 in the two matches.

Gibbemeyer added 10 kills for UWRF, who did not hit as well as they had in the previous match of the day.  Their best game was a respectable .297 kill percentage in the second game, which the Falcons won.

Preiner finished the day with 52 digs, having 27 against Bethel.  Shannon Bjorklund (New Sweden, MN, Sibley East) added 15 to help the Falcon defense.

Both Suda and Buchanan finished the match with 20 assists.

UWRF is now 17-15 against Bethel in school history.

The Falcons finished the Bethel Tournament with a 3-1 record to improve their overall record to 5-4.

Up next for the Falcons is their home opener against Northland College.  Match time is set for 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 14 at the Karges Center.  The Falcons defeated Northland 3-0 back on Sept. 9.

Match 1 Box Score
Match 2 Box Score