The College of Saint Benedict volleyball team (18-3 overall, 5-0 MIAC) sent St. Mary's University (11-7 overall, 3-1 MIAC) to their first conference loss in an impressive outing, winning 25-23, 25-15, and 25-20.  The victory was Blazers head coach Michelle Blaeser's 150th career win.
    The two teams traded points back-and-forth for most of the first set and notched the score 20-20 until CSB pulled away to a four point lead, thanks to first-year hitter Chelsie Sobieck (Wyoming, MN, Forrest Lake)(12 kills, 11 digs).  Saint Mary's rallied back within one point due to attack errors by the Blazers, but junior hitter Emma Jaynes (Hibbing, MN, Hibbing)(15 kills, 11 digs) was able to score a kill for the home team and won the set.
    Saint Benedict got going early in the second set, jumping to a 7-1 lead.  The Cardinals would still not concede, though, and brought the score within two points, 12-10.  But the Blazers' all-around attack was too much for Saint Mary's and CSB ended the set on a 13-5 run.
    In the third and final set the Cardinals set the tone early with a 15-8 lead.  But once sophomore right side hitter Amber Wortz (Fairfax, MN, Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop)(13 digs, 3 SA) was the legal server, the Blazers found their rhythm and completed the set and match with a 17-5 run.  Junior setter Beth Hanson (Fairbault, MN, Bethlehem Academy)added 35 assists and junior libero Andrea Millerbernd (Littlefork, MN, Littlefork-Big Falls)contributed 10 digs for CSB.  The Cardinals charge was led by junior hitter Courtney Runge (12 kills) and senior libero Theresa Perrini (20 digs).
    The Blazers begin a three week road trip on Wednesday, Oct. 8 at Hamline University at 7 p.m.

CSB-SMU Box Score