St. Joseph, Minn. – The Saint Benedict volleyball team came out with a bang tonight (Sept. 25), getting back in the win column with a 3-0 sweep against the University of Wisconsin-Superior.

The Blazers (13-4) started out the first set with a 9-2 lead, but the Yellowjackets (12-5) came back to take a 19-17 lead. The Blazers rallied back and took the first set 25-20. The second set stayed close the whole time but the Blazers powered through and won 25-20 again. In the third set, the Blazers took the first three points but the Yellowjackets came back to tie the score at 3-3 and kept it close until the Blazers pulled ahead 17-8 and finished the set and match with a score of 25-18.

The Blazers had a tough hitting night, finishing with a .038 hitting percentage in the first set, .244 in the second, and .083 in the third.

“Passing is what it starts with, so we just have to get a good pass and a good set, and our hitters have to knock it down,” said Kendra Coleman about the Blazer attack.

For any short-comings on the offensive end, the Blazer defense was there to pick up the slack in a big way tonight, holding the Yellowjackets to a mere .007 attack percentage, the lowest for a Saint Benedict opponent all season. The UW-Superior superior attack was held below .000 in both the first and third sets, and the Blazers have held two of their last three opponents to a hitting percentage under .010.

“It was good to see what we've been working on in practice really come to fruition in tonight's match,” said Head Coach Nicole Hess.

Sophomore Sophie Stangl lead the team in kills with nine, followed closely by fellow sophomore Alexa Rinde who added another eight. Coleman lead the Blazers with a .263 hitting percentage while posting seven kills, one of her best games of the season.

Taya Kockelman directed the offense with 32 set assists, getting right back in her usual groove after tallying just 17 last week against St. Thomas. The MIAC leader entering the night, Kockelman has now went over the 30-assist mark in all but three games this season.

The Blazers go on to play four consecutive MIAC matches starting with St. Mary's at home this Friday, before hosting St. Olaf on Homecoming Saturday.

“It's nice to be at home,” Coach Hess added. “We've been on the road a lot this season, but this week we have three home games so it's really nice to start those three matches with a win after Saturday's loss. It's always nice to get a win after a loss and get ready for the MIAC.”