Box Score

The St. Catherine University volleyball team needed to pick up a win against a tough Bethel University team in a crucial Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC), Friday night, as the conference playoffs are fast approaching.
 
Despite fighting back to take the second and third sets, the Wildcats couldn't find a way to stop the Royals who knocked down 22 total blocks in a 3-2 (25-23, 21-25,  23-25, 25-13, 15-11) defeat of the Wildcats at the Butler Center on Dig Pink Night. 
 
The match was a back and forth battle for every point, but ultimately, Bethel was able to overcome a nine-point deficit in the fifth to seal the win.
 
Though the Wildcats couldn't hang on for the win, senior Brittni Wangerin (Prior Lake, Minn.) still found a way to shine as she came up with 17 kills to surpass the 1,000-career-kills mark as a Wildcat. Her 17 kills was the most in the match and was also her second-highest total this season.
 
Senior libero Nicole Pothen (Faribault, Minn.) helped keep the Wildcats in the match with her strong defensive play as she recorded a match-high and her season-best 36 digs. Wangerin also chipped in 17 digs, while Kelsey Wirtanen (Hibbing, Minn.) had the second-most for the Wildcats with 21.
 
Marie O'Neil (St. Michael, Minn.) continued her strong play in the front row as she was a part of four of the team's seven total blocks against the Royals. The senior had three solo blocks and two block assists, while also recording nine kills, three digs and two service aces.
 
Sophomore setter Ashley Kahlow (LeSueur, Minn.) had another strong evening for the Wildcats as she racked up 27 assists and 10 digs, while Jordyn Wentland (Blaine, Minn.) also contributed 24 helpers and eight digs.
 
The Wildcats close out their regular season at home next week beginning with a Wednesday match against Gustavus at 7 p.m., before closing out the year versus Macalester on Friday at 7 p.m.
 
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