By Leah Rado, Athletic Media Relations Director

Chicago Box Score | Elmhurst Box Score

ELMHURST, Ill. – The College of Saint Benedict volleyball team split a pair of matches on the second and final day of the Elmhurst Invite in Elmhurst, Ill. The Blazers fell 3-0 to Chicago Saturday morning, but ended the weekend with a 3-0 sweep of No. 13 Elmhurst that same afternoon.
 
Saint Ben's, which is ranked 14^th in the AVCA Division III poll, is now 9-5 overall heading into more MIAC play this week.
 
The Blazers held on for a 25-23 win in the first set against host-school Elmhurst, and won sets two and three 25-15 and 25-19.
 
Laura Schmitt finished with a team-high 12 kills for Saint Benedict. Lexi Rinde added 10 kills and Sophie Stangl finished with seven. Taya Kockelman had 30 assists and Victoria Nass paced the defense with 13 digs. Gabi Narvaez finished with 12 digs and Kockelman added 11.
 
The Blazers started the day with a 3-0 loss to the University of Chicago, which is receiving votes in the NCAA Division III. Chicago won 25-21, 25-14 and 25-18.
 
Stangl led the Blazer offense with eight kills and Rinde chipped in with seven. Kockelman had 26 assists and Nass paced the defense with 16 digs. Narvaez added 11 digs and Schmitt chipped in with 10.
 
Saint Ben's is back in action and returns home Wednesday, Sept. 24, when it hosts Augsburg College at 7 p.m. in Claire Lynch. Augsburg will be the fifth straight team at least mentioned in the national polls that the Blazers have faced. The Auggies are currently ranked No. 24.