Volleyball | 10/10/2018

ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict volleyball starts a tough two-week stretch Wednesday when it hosts Augsburg in a key MIAC matchup. After a big sweep of Bethel Friday, CSB looks to use that momentum to its advantage in a big game against another of the top teams in the league. The two teams are scheduled to play at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Claire Lynch.

ABOUT THE AUGGIES
Augsburg has lost two of its last three games, including a 3-0 loss to St. Thomas, but the Auggies have won nine of their last 11 and head to St. Joseph looking to move up the MIAC standings. Morgan Malley is fourth in the MIAC in assists, Macey Terhell is second in total digs and Corrina Evans and Kayla Gjerde are in the top 20 in kills.

LAST MEETING
Augsburg beat Saint Benedict 3-1 last season during the regular season, but CSB won an exciting match 3-2 in the MIAC semifinals in Claire Lynch. The Auggies won set 4 25-23 to force a fifth set, but CSB pulled away for a 15-8 win. Liz Schultz had 17 kills and 21 digs, Hunter Weiss had 15 kills and Haley LaValle had 31 digs.

THE STORYLINE
A huge sweep of Bethel pushed CSB's MIAC record to 6-0, its best conference start since 2008. With one home game left in the regular season and just a handful of conference games left, Saint Benedict looks to take advantage of playing at home while it can and tries to pick up a few wins to seal its spot atop the conference standings.

WHO TO WATCH:
Junior libero Haley LaValle won MIAC Setter/Libero of the Week honors Monday after recording a career-high 34 digs Friday at Bethel. She is the first non-setter to win the award for CSB since 2012. Madison Weiss and Hunter Weiss are both in the top seven in the MIAC in kills and in the top three in the league in total blocks, and Katie Koch and LaValle lead the MIAC in assists and digs, respectively.