The College of Saint Benedict volleyball team (25-5 overall, 8-2 MIAC) lost a tight, close game to St. Thomas (25-2 overall, 10-0 MIAC), 23-25, 21-25, 25-21, 22-25.  The match also set a new CSB volleyball record for attendance in a regular season match with a crowd of 658 people.  The program's goal was to set the attendance record going into the evening's contest, which was previously 512 fans.  CSB received great support from the home crowd during the entirety of the contest.

    The critical conference matchup lived up to its expectations between two nationally ranked teams.  The competitors played close from the very get-go, trading points back and forth throughout the first set.  The Blazers held a 23-22 lead, but two straight kills by the Tommies allowed them to regain the lead and put away the set from there.  The second set saw St. Thomas grab a 14-18 lead in the middle of the set and not letting go, keeping the pace even with Saint Benedict to claim the set.

    The Blazers fought back in the third set with a 9-2 run and take a 20-15 lead.  The Tommies were able to narrow the margin 24-21, but thanks to one of junior hitter Emma Jaynes (Hibbing, MN, Hibbing) team high 16 kills, CSB took the set.

    Set 4 started off as a see-saw battle again, with the Blazers down by one point, 19-20.  But the Tommies played consistently and maintained a small lead, eventually putting away the set and match with one of senior middle blocker Katie McCaffrey's 20 kills.

    Along with her 16 kills, Jaynes recorded 20 digs.  Also having standout matches for CSB were junior setter Beth Hanson (Fairbault, MN, Bethlehem Academy) (44 assists), junior libero Andrea Millerbernd (Littlefork, MN, Littlefork-Big Falls) (22 digs) and first-year hitter Chelsie Sobieck (Wyoming, MN, Forrest Lake) (12 kills).  The Blazers wrap up the regular season at Concordia on Saturday, November 1st at 3 p.m.  If Saint Benedict wins, they claim the third seed in the MIAC tournament.  If they lose, they will be named the fourth seed in the conference playoffs, which start Tuesday, November 4th at 7 p.m.

CSB-UST Box Score