The College of Saint Benedict volleyball team (26-5 overall, 9-2 MIAC) finished off their regular season with an impressive victory over Concordia (20-4 overall, 8-3 MIAC), 25-20, 25-20, 19-25, 23-25 and 15-9.  The win places CSB in a tie for second place in the conference with Gustavus.

    The Blazers went into Moorhead knowing they were going to face a tough Cobbers team, who finished fourth in the conference.  In the first set the score was notched at 15 until a kill by sopohomore right side hitter Kayli Schumacher (East Grand Forks, MN, Sacred Heart) sparked a 10-5 run to win the set for Saint Benedict.  Set two started off as another back-and forth effort with the Blazers losing 18-19.  But one of junior setter Emma Jaynes' (Hibbing, MN, Hibbing) match high 26 kills gave possession back to CSB, and they finished off the set by allowing only one more point to the Cobbers. 

    Set three saw a continuing trend with the competitors trading back points early in the set at 12-12.  Concordia was able to ignite a rally, though, and won the set thanks to a 13-7 run on the home stretch.  The Cobbers grabbed a quick 17-9 lead in the fourth set, but CSB rallied back to a 19-20 deficit.  The rally was not enough to overcome the home team and Concordia staved off their opponent to force a final set.

    The score was locked at six early in set five, but three straight kills by Jaynes sparked a 9-3 rally for Saint Benedict to put away the set and match.  Junior setter Beth Hanson (Fairbault, MN, Bethlehem Academy) led CSB in assists (57) and digs (26), Jaynes added 22 digs and first-year hitter Chelsie Sobieck (Wyoming, MN, Forrest Lake) contributed 16 kills and 16 digs in the winning effort.
    
    Three seed Saint Benedict will host their quarterfinal matchup of the MIAC tournament on Tuesday, November 4th at 7 pm against six seeded Saint Mary's University at Claire Lynch Hall.