WAVERLY, Iowa – The College of Saint Benedict volleyball team picked up a big regional win and avenged one of its five-set losses from earlier this season Friday night when it defeated Coe College 3-1 at the Wartburg Tournament in Waverly, Iowa.
 
CSB improved to 6-4 overall with the win over the Kohawks, who defeated the Blazers 3-2 on Sept. 5 at the Northwestern Tournament. Coe was No. 25 in Division III at the time. Both teams are currently receiving votes in the AVCA poll.
 
All four sets were close Friday night, but CSB was able to hold on and pull out the win to keep its four-match winning streak alive. The Blazers won the first two sets 25-20 and 25-21 before falling 25-23 in the third set. CSB finished the match with a 25-19 win in the fourth and final set.
 
Senior Laura Schmitt led CSB with 16 kills, and she recorded a double-double with 13 digs. Briana Schmiesing added 12 kills and Lauren Mathews finished with 10 kills and six total blocks. Megan Pekarek had 41 assists, eight digs, four total blocks and five kills, and Gabi Narvaez and Megan Barta led the defense with 18 digs each. Meghan Koop added 17 digs and eight kills.
 
Brianna Smith led all hitters with 17 kills for Coe. Lauren Himan added 12 and Madi Miller led the defense with 19 digs. Mackenzie Harbaugh had 45 assists and 11 digs.
 
CSB returns to action Saturday, Sept. 19 with a pair of nonconference matches in the second day of the Wartburg Tournament. CSB takes on Buena Vista at 10 a.m. and host-school Wartburg – which is also receiving votes in Division III – at noon.