MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict gutted out a huge five-set win over Augsburg College Wednesday night in Minneapolis. The Blazers, who were down 2-1, ended the fourth set on a 10-1 run to force a fifth set, and then came from behind to win the set 15-13 and the match 3-2.
Wednesday's win not only clinched a playoff berth for CSB, it also set up a key match in Saturday's regular-season finale. The Blazers, who are 16-8 overall and 7-3 in the MIAC, host Concordia, which is also 7-3 in the league, to end the regular season. The two teams enter Saturday tied for fourth in the league.
A Concordia win would give the Cobbers at least a fourth-place finish and push CSB to fifth. A CSB win could put the Blazers anywhere from the No. 2 seed to the No. 4 seed, depending on what happens elsewhere in the league. Gustavus sealed the league title with a win over Hamline Wednesday, and Bethel and Saint Mary's are tied for second at 8-2.
Wednesday in Minneapolis, the Blazers jumped to a 1-0 lead thanks to a 25-20 win over the Auggies (19-8, 5-5) in the first set. Augsburg came back to win set two 25-22, and took a 2-1 lead after the third set thanks to a 28-26 win. CSB held off the Auggies at match point and rallied to force extra points, but Augsburg was able to come away with the win.
Saint Benedict came out strong in the fourth set and won 25-16 thanks in large part to a 10-1 run to end the set. In the fifth set, CSB took a 3-0 lead early, but the Auggies scored six straight to go up 6-5. Augsburg led late in the set, but the Blazers took a 14-13 lead on a kill by
Lauren Mathews and won the set and the match on an Augsburg attack error.
Sophomore setter
Megan Pekarek recorded her third straight triple-double to lead CSB. The reigning MIAC Setter/Libero of the Week finished with 50 assists – one short of her career high – 13 kills and 13 digs. Sophomore
Briana Schmiesing blew past her career high of 13 kills with 21 kills to lead the CSB offense and
Laura Schmitt added 20 kills. Mathews also hit double digits with 10 kills.
Meghan Barta led the Blazers with 34 digs and
Meghan Koop finished with 33. Schmitt added 23 digs for CSB.
The Blazers wrap up the regular season at 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, when they host the Cobbers in Claire Lynch Hall.
