Something had to give on Wednesday at Schoenecker Arena when the first-place and host St. Thomas Tommies played the second-place Bethel Royals. The Toms' nine-match victory streak collided with BU's 10-match win streak.
Bethel won the first set at the wire, but No. 17-ranked St. Thomas stormed back to win the match, 3-1. The Purple won 23-25, 25-16, 25-21, 25-20.
St. Thomas (21-3 overall, 7-0 MIAC) opened a two-match lead atop the conference standings, and improved to 7-0 in October. Bethel (15-6, 4-2) had its 10-game win streak halted.
Sophomore setter Grace Anetipa had 53 assists and 18 digs for the Tommies, who hit .240 and rode balanced scoring. Madie Kroehler had 13 kills and 17 digs; Selena Levendoski, Hannah Braun and Fran Egan each had 12 kills; and Kate Achenbach added 11 kills. Ellie Meyer recorded 29 digs, while Anna Scheffley added 10 digs and Meghan Mazzola chipped in nine digs.
BU's Maria Claflin had 17 kills and five blocks, and Dominique Dabu had a match-best 32 digs.
The Toms play three matches next weekend in Iowa at the Coe College tournament.