ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – After a sweep to wrap up the regular season, the College of Saint Benedict volleyball team heads into the MIAC Tournament on a high note Tuesday as it starts its 2019 tournament run at home against Bethel.
 
This marks the third straight season CSB has hosted a playoff game, and the Bennies look to get back to the championship match for the third time in as many years. Tuesday's quarterfinal game starts at 7 p.m. in Claire Lynch Hall.
 
No. 4 Augsburg hosts No. 5 Gustavus in the other quarterfinal. The winner of Tuesday's match between CSB and Bethel heads to St. Olaf Thursday, and the winner of the Auggies/Gusties gets No. 1 St. Thomas next.
 
ABOUT THE ROYALS
Bethel snapped a five-match losing streak with a pair of wins to end the regular season and secure a MIAC Tournament bid. The losing streak came after a 10-match winning streak that spanned Sept. 20-Oct. 10. Of the team's 17 wins, eight have been on the road as the Royals are 8-2 when they're the visitor this season. Maria Claflin is fourth in the MIAC in total kills with 345, and Hannah Wilhite is seventh with 683 assists this season.
 
LAST MEETING
Saint Benedic's first MIAC game of 2019 was against Bethel, and the Bennies snuck away with a 3-2 win in Arden Hills. All five sets were extremely close, and the two teams were evenly matched. Gabby Heying and Madison Weiss had 14 kills, Madison also had 10 total blocks, Haley LaValle had 21 digs and Katie Koch had 49 assists.
 
THE STORYLINE
It's win-or-go-home in a rematch of one of CSB's closest games this season. The winner of Tuesday's quarterfinal heads to Northfield Thursday to take on the Oles, and CSB is itching to get another shot at St. Olaf - which handed the Bennies one of their four losses this season.
 
WHO TO WATCH:
Junior setter Katie Koch earned MIAC Setter of the Week honors for the second straight season after another big week last week. Her 43 assists Saturday pushed her over the 1,000-assist milestone for the season. Madison Weiss, Hunter Weiss and Emily Marso all had double-digit kills in the team's win against Concordia Saturday.