ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict volleyball team hasn't had the chance to play at home much yet this season, but the Blazers have proved they're not scared to play on the road.
 
Saint Ben's opened its season at its own Labor Day Tournament and picked up two wins to start the season, and has been on the road ever since. Tonight's game against Macalester College marks CSB's first home game since Aug. 30.
 
Not only is tonight's game the first home game for the Blazers in September, it also marks the start of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play for both teams. The Scots enter tonight's match 7-7 overall and Saint Ben's is 7-2 and comes into tonight on a five-match winning streak.
 
"I think we're excited to get the MIAC season under way," Blazer head coach Nicole Hess said. "Any time you can go on a streak with winning confidence is high, but we know we have to play well. Our conference is one of the best in the country, so we have to be sure we're ready and prepared."
 
The last time the Blazers hit the court they went 4-0 at the UW-Oshkosh Classic Sept. 12-13 in Oshkosh, Wis. Saint Benedict swept UW-Superior and Maranatha Baptist and defeated Concordia (Wis.) and Dominican (Ill.) 3-1. Senior setter Taya Kockelman, outside hitter Lexi Rinde and middle hitter Sophie Stangl all earned All-Tournament honors.
 
Kockelman averaged more than 11 assists per set at the Oshkosh Classic. She racked up 39 assists in a three-set win over Superior, and she had 49 in CSB's 3-1 win against Concordia (Wis.). She leads the MIAC and is fifth in the NCAA Division III with 10.97 assists per set. Junior middle hitter Mary Franz also had a solid weekend, as she racked up 40 kills and 15 total blocks. She is currently third in the conference with 0.97 blocks per set.
 
Laura Schmitt leads the Blazers with 93 kills and is also second on the team with 124 digs.
 
"I think the team is good at being confident, but not over confident," senior middle Bailey Rykken said. "We know we have things to work on, but we also know if we play our game and play at our level we'll be able to do what we need to do. I think our biggest concern is making sure we stay disciplined and keep our game at a high level."
 
The Blazers play a handful of nonconference games yet this season as they travel to Elmhurst, Ill., for the Elmhurst Classic this coming weekend and they play on the UW-Eau Claire Tournament Oct. 17-18, but MIAC opponents make up the bulk of CSB's remaining schedule in 2014.
 
Heading into conference play, CSB is one of three teams with two or fewer losses. Hamline – which was picked to finish eighth in the league – is the lone undefeated team in the conference with a 7-0 record. Carleton is 10-2, and Augsburg is right behind the Blazers with three losses.
 
A win tonight would give CSB a boost heading into the weekend tournament – which features several ranked teams – and the rest of the MIAC season, which looks to be tough as usual.
 
"We're just trying to keep doing what we're doing," Hess said. "Consistency is always something we're aiming for."