ST. PAUL, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict volleyball team pushed its current winning streak to seven matches Wednesday night when it defeated Macalester College 3-1 in a MIAC matchup in St. Paul, Minn.
Wednesday's match also marked the final match in a nine-game series for CSB, which hasn't played at home since Sept. 8. In those nine matches, CSB finished 7-2, including wins against several teams who are mentioned in the AVCA poll. Its only two losses in that time came to teams in the top 12 in Division III.
Macalester, which had just two losses to its name heading into Wednesday night, took the first set 25-18 to start the match, but the Blazers (9-4, 2-0 MIAC) came back to win the next three to keep the match to four sets. After losing the first set CSB came back to win the second set 25-14, and held off the Scots in a 25-19 win in set three.
Laura Schmitt had 10 kills in the third set to lead the way for CSB.
The fourth and final set was back and forth throughout, with neither team securing more than a two-point lead down the stretch. The Blazers looked to take the win with a 24-23 lead thanks to a block from
Meghan Koop and Brianna Schmiesing, but the Scots rallied with a kill to tie the score 24-24.
A Macalester attack error put CSB up 25-24, and Koop finished the set and the match with a kill to give CSB the 26-24 victory.
Schmitt tied her career high with 23 kills Wednesday night. She also finished with 17 digs.
Lauren Mathews and Koop each added seven kills and Mathews had six total blocks.
Megan Pekarek finished with 40 assists, eight digs and eight kills, and Koop led the team with 22 digs.
Megan Barta also finished with 16 digs.
Brooke Hunter led the Scots (11-3, 0-2) with 16 kills and Clara Baumann finished with 13. Arianna Hesterberg had 35 assists and Cora Trout led the defense with 28 digs.
CSB returns home for the first time in almost three weeks Friday, Sept. 25, when it hosts Bethel University at 7:30 p.m. in Claire Lynch Hall. Both teams are currently receiving votes in Division III.
