Minneapolis – The No. 18 Saint Benedict volleyball team settled for a split today (Sept. 7) at the Augsburg Invitational, opening with win over St. Scholastica before falling to Northwestern.

The Blazers swept the Saints 25-15, 25-21, 25-18 to open the day, and took the first set from Northwestern, 25-18 before the Eagles came back to win three straight 25-22, 25-20, 25-14. With their second win of the week, Northwestern takes the season series from CSB 2-0.

Alexa Rinde led the way with 25 total kills on the day, with Lexi Alm close behind with 21. The Blazers pounded down 39 kills in the first match, and came back with 47 in the loss to Northwestern, their highest total in their last three matches. Rinde's 12 and 13 in each match respectively were each game highs, with her 13 marking her second highest mark of the season.

The Blazers made quick work of the Saints in the first match, allowing just a .164 hitting percentage and only 30 kills, the least they've allowed since the season opener. The tables turned against the Eagles, though, as NWC put up 41 kills and a .250 hitting percentage, the best for a CSB opponent this season.

Taya Kockelman continued to run a steady offense with 62 total assists topping the 30 mark in each match.

On the defensive side, four players finished with over 20 digs led by Lexi Alm with 46. She tallied a career high 27 against Northwestern as Saint Benedict charted 92 in the match, their second highest total of the year. Alm's mark bettered her two-year-old career best of 22 from late in her first year.

With a 5-2 mark on the season, the Blazers return to the Augsburg Invitational tomorrow, starting early with a 9 a.m. match against Coe, before closing the weekend with a rematch against UW-Stevens Point at 1 p.m. CSB took a 3-1 win over the Pointers in their first meeting last weekend.