ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – After putting together its best season in more than a decade, the College of Saint Benedict volleyball team is in good hands in 2020-21 with its five senior captains.
 
Katie Koch, Hunter Weiss, Morgan Holthaus, Madison Weiss and Bridget McDonald have been a part of three trips to the NCAA Tournament, including back-to-back Sweet 16 appearances and the program's first Elite 8 appearance since 2008. The group includes a pair of two-time All-Americans in Hunter and Madison, a trio of All-MIAC honorees and a CoSIDA Academic All-American. Saint Benedict volleyball has finished second in the MIAC in each of their first three seasons with the program.
 
What is your major?
MH: Elementary Education
BM: Nutrition-dietetics
MW: Biology
HW: Biology
KK: Global Business Leadership major with a minor in Communications
 
What is your dream job?
MH: FBI Agent
BM: To work as a dietician at a non-profit 
MW: Work somewhere in public health or open up my own bakery 
HW: Working for the FBI in some aspect
KK: I would love to do something in the marketing or advertising industry
 
What's your go-to pre-game meal? 
MH: Any kind of pasta
BM: Oatmeal
MW: Stir fry and peanut butter/banana
HW: The only consistent thing I eat before games is peanut butter and banana.
KK: A big plate of noodles followed by a banana with peanut butter.
 
Do you have a favorite pre-game pump-up song?
MH: Listening to the Weiss twins sing Chill Bill.
BM: Elton John or Fleetwood Mac
MW: Goosebumps
HW: Chill Bill
KK: Best Love Song by T-Pain does the job and gets me hyped before a game.
 
 
The best ice cream flavor ever is … 
MH: Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
BM: I don't have a specific one in mind, but I love trying new flavors I've never had before.
MW: Double fudge cookie dough
HW: Coffee!
KK: Unpopular opinion, but cotton candy is the best ice cream flavor ever.
 
Did you pick up any fun new hobbies in quarantine?
MH: Golfing and being able to finish a whole season on Netflix in a day. 
BM: I learned how to make kombucha and spent a lot of time drawing
MW: I tried to get better at cooking
HW: During quarantine I did a paint-by-number, which was super fun.
KK: I started reading more and going on TikTok for an unhealthy amount of time.
 
When did you start playing volleyball, and what made you fall in love with it?
MH: I started playing volleyball in third grade and I fell in love with the sport because of the atmosphere that the game brings and the amazing teammates I have played with.
BM: I started playing in fifth grade. I knew it was the sport for me because I absolutely loved going to practices and games and I honestly couldn't imagine growing up without it. The people are amazing, and I am so thankful for every single person and teammate I've had and what I have learned.
MW: I started playing volleyball in fourth grade. I loved the team aspect and how there were so many skills to learn. 
HW: I started doing camps in fourth grade, but didn't start playing until sixth grade. I fell in love with the sport because of the pace of it. Everything was so fast, and there's so much emotion in every play. When you get a big kill, block, or dig, it is like no other feeling in the world.
KK: I started playing volleyball in fourth grade when I was nine. I fell in love with it for a few reasons, the first is the friendships I have made through playing club volleyball, another reason is the competitive nature of the sport and the environment the fans create when they come and cheer us on.
 
What's your favorite part about being a member of the CSB volleyball team?
MH: My favorite part about being a member of the CSB volleyball team is having teammates that are your best friends and having coaches that push you to be the best you can be during every practice and game. 
BM: Sprints and three-minute serving
MW: I love that I have a built-in family and that I have the ability to continue a sport I love with women who make it even better.
HW: Team bonding. Eating team meals, travelling, going to Brainerd, team walks, etc. All those in-between moments between games are some of my favorite memories, because I got to spend them with the best people.
KK: My favorite part about being on the CSB volleyball team is the relationships I've made with both my coaches and teammates; we are one big family and I'm so grateful that I have the opportunity to play for such an amazing team.