ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict volleyball team fell 3-1 to St. Scholastica Saturday evening in the first-ever MIAC matchup between the two teams. The Saints (1-6, 1-2) won 25-21, 25-20, 17-25 and 25-20.
 
As has been the case much of the season, it all came down to how was able to put together a run at the right time. The Saints led 10-6 early in the first set, but a quick Bennie run that included kills from Sophie Kobienia, Gabby Heying and Madelyn Gregory tied it 11-11. Another quick run with kills from Heying and McKenzie Galvin put CSB up 15-14, but the Saints went up 22-17 and, after a short Bennie run to make it a two-point game late, scored the final two points of the set to hold on for the win.
 
The Bennies (2-10, 0-3) led 11-10 in the second thanks to a trio of kills from Heying, but St. Scholastica responded with a 5-0 run to go up 15-11. CSB answered with a short run that featured kills from Heying and Galvin, but the Saints used another run to go up 23-16. Several errors from the Saints kept the Bennies in the game and made it 23-20, but another two points ended the set in the Saints' favor.
 
Saint Benedict came out ready to play in the third set, and used a block from Gregory, kills from Galvin, Heying, Emma Guest and Grace Holm to go up 8-2, and another kill from Holm made it 10-4. The Saints fought to stay in the game and made it 13-8, but kills from Kobienia and three kills from Heying made it 18-10. The Saints used another run to get within three, 20-17, but the Bennies scored the final five points to hold on for the win and cut the Saints' lead to 2-1. Mackenzie McDonald had a service ace and Kobienia had a kill as part of the run.
 
The Bennies took another solid lead to start the fourth, going ahead 8-3 after kills from Galvin and Heying and then 9-4 after a block from Galvin and Holm, but the Saints clawed their way back. Scholastica tied the set at 12-12, then took a 15-13 lead that they never gave up. A kill from Guest made it 18-17, but a three-point run put CSS back up four. A kill from Guest and a service ace from McDonald made it 21-19, but Scholastica scored four of the last five points to hold on for the win.
 
Heying had 17 kills to lead the Bennies and Gregory finished with 10 and two total blocks. Payton Marker had 26 assists and Audrey Spolidoro added 21, and Mary Wenisch led the defense with 28 digs. McDonald added 15 digs and two service aces.
 
Jessica Remer led the Saints with 15 kills, Ellie Greenwaldt had 22 assists and Alcia Draper had 42 digs.
 
The Bennies are off now until Friday, Oct. 8, when they head to St. Paul to take on Macalester.