ARDEN HILLS, Minn. -- The College of Saint Benedict volleyball team fell 3-0 in a hard fought match to the Bethel University Royals in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action on Wednesday evening at the Robertson Center. 

For the second straight match, Saint Ben's took on one of the top teams in NCAA Division III with Bethel receiving votes in the most recent NCAA DIII national poll. The Bennies came out ready to play hitting at a .347 clip in the first set. Bethel used a small run to go up five mid-way through the first set, but CSB pulled within one at 21-20. The two teams traded points, but the Royals were able to score the final two points of the set to claim a 25-22 first set victory. 

In the second set, Saint Ben's had an early 7-4 lead, but Bethel rallied and the teams traded points to a 15-15 tie at the mid-point of the match. The two squads found themselves notched at 20 points apiece, but the Royals were able to score three in a row and finished the set 25-22. 

The final set was again a competitive back-and-forth affair. Bethel grabbed an early 10-4 lead but Chaeli Haupert rattled off five serves in a row, while the Bennies capitalized on some Bethel hitting miscues to tie things up at 11. CSB pulled within one at 23-22 and again at 24-23, but just couldn't finish the set as Bethel hung on for a 25-23 win.

Saint Ben's was led by Gabby Heying and Emma Guest, who both finished with kill-dig double-doubles. Heying posted 15 kills and 11 digs, while Guest finished with 11 kills and 11 digs. Mackenzie McDonald tied a match-high with 17 digs, while Audrey Spolidoro posted 39 assists and 12 digs. 

CSB returns to action on Saturday, when the Bennies travel to Duluth, Minn. to take on the College of Saint Scholastica.