BOSTON, Mass. – After dropping a pair of extremely close five-set matches Friday night, the College of Saint Benedict volleyball team bounced back and wrapped up its Boston trip with a pair of sweeps Saturday afternoon.
 
The Blazers (4-4) started the morning with a quick 3-0 sweep of UMass-Boston, and ended the tournament with another sweep, this one against Tufts, which is receiving votes in Division III. CSB finished the weekend 2-2 and played three teams mentioned in the AVCA Division III poll at the tournament, hosted by UMass-Boston.
 
After a pair of long matches Friday, CSB came out Saturday morning and made quick work of the host school. The Blazers beat UMass 25-12, 25-19 and 25-9. Laura Schmitt finished with a match-high 10 kills, and she also added seven digs. Meghan Koop finished with nine kills and Megan Barta led the team with 11 digs. She also had seven assists. Megan Pekarek finished with 28 assists and 10 digs.
 
CSB's second match of the day took a little longer, but the Blazers still came out on top in the 3-0 victory. Saint Benedict defeated Tufts 25-22, 25-13 and 25-23. Pekarek had a pair of kills late in the game to keep CSB ahead of the Jumbos for the win to avoid a fourth set.
 
Koop led the way with 11 kills for CSB, and she also had 12 digs. Schmitt finished with eight kills and nine digs, Barta had 13 digs and Gabi Narvaez had nine digs. Pekarek had 27 assists, six kills and six digs.
 
The Blazers play five more matches on the road before returning home on Friday, Sept. 25. CSB opens MIAC play Wednesday, Sept. 16, when it travels to St. Paul to take on No. 20 St. Thomas.