Eau Claire, Wis. – Led by stellar play from their front row stars, the Saint Benedict volleyball team completed a perfect 4-0 start to the season with a pair of 3-1 wins over UW-Stevens Point and UW-Eau Claire today (Sept. 1), respectively. The Blazers were the only team to go undefeated through all four games.

Jumping right in to the fire, the Blazers took on a pair of fellow 2011 NCAA Tournament teams, opening the day with their win over UW-Stevens Point. The Blazers overcame a third set loss against the Pointers (1-2) despite posting 15 kills and a match-high .290 hitting percentage. They overcame the setback, though, and took the match 25-20, 25-21, 18-25, 25-23.

Then in the finale of the UWEC Labor Day Classic, the Blazers had the tall order of matching up with the tournament hosts in UW-Eau Claire. Taking on the hosts and the home crowd, CSB again won in four, jumping out to a two set lead for the second straight match, before taking the win 25-20, 25-19, 26-28, 25-22. As the third set cruised past the 25-point mark, the Blazers posted their best set of the weekend, finishing with 17 kills.

The Blazers were paced by Lexi Alm and Alexa Rinde as they finished the weekend sweep, and each were named to the eight-member All-Tournament for their efforts.

Alm was in a class by herself on the day, charting 20 kills in each match while taking and astounding 103 attempts. It marks the second straight day she has posted a career high in the category, breaking her mark of 18 from Friday. Her previous best was 16 set last season against Gustavus. Furthermore she added 34 digs in the back row, including 19 against UW-Stevens Point as CSB racked up 106 on the match.

Rinde charted her third match of the weekend with a hitting percentage above .300 in the finale against UW-Eau Claire, adding 15 total kills on the day.  Against the Blugolds the hit .318 in her way to seven kills, finishing without an error.

Adding to the Blazers total, Sophie Stangl added 14 kills on the day, with Callie Naumann contributing 10. Running the offense, Taya Kockelman handed out 78 assists, putting up at least 34 in each match of the weekend.

The Blazers' 4-0 start is their best under head coach Nicole Hess, and best since starting the 2004 season with an 8-0 run.

They won't have to wait long for their chance to stretch their streak to five straight, as they return to the court on Wednesday, hosting Northwestern at 7 p.m. on Sept. 8 in the home opener.