NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict volleyball team knew that it had two tough road matches on the docket this weekend against two of the top teams in the MIAC, but that didn't faze the Bennies.
Saint Benedict swept St. Olaf 3-0 Friday to kick off a big road weekend of MIAC play in Northfield. The Bennies won all three sets in extra points – 26-24, 27-25 and 26-24. With three matches left in the regular season, CSB is 6-11 overall and 4-4 and tied for fifth in the conference with three matches left in the regular season.
The first two sets were back-and-forth throughout in Northfield, with neither team able to put together a run of more than a few points. The Oles (10-12, 5-3) went on a three-point run late to go up 24-22 in the first set, but CSB responded with a 4-0 run to pick up the first-set win.
Olivia Thompson had a kill to start the run,
Gabby Heying had two kills and
Mackenzie McDonald added a service ace to help the Bennies pull away for the win.
Saint Benedict went on a 4-0 run early in the second set to go up 10-6 thanks to kills from Heying and
Madelyn Gregory and a block from Gregory, but the Oles got themselves right back in it with a 4-0 run. A service ace by
Audrey Spolidoro put the Bennies up 22-20 late, but St. Olaf came back to tie it at 24-24. The Oles tied it again at 25-25, but Spolidoro and Heying both had kills to give CSB another close win, and a 2-0 lead.
The Oles came out hot in the third set and led 7-1 early, but CSB rattled off four straight points thanks to a kill from
Grace Holm and two service aces from
Emma Guest to get within 10-8. St. Olaf extended its lead, and led 19-15, but another 4-0 run tied the set at 19-19 thanks to kills from
Sophie Kobienia and Spolidoro and another ace from Guest. St. Olaf led 24-23 late, but Kobienia had a kill, Heying got a service ace and an Ole attack error ended the set and the match.
Heying had 15 kills to lead the Bennies, which had 47 kills and hit .182 as a team. Gregory added seven kills and three total blocks and
Olivia Thompson finished with nine kills. Spolidoro had 37 assists, five kills and 11 digs and
Mary Wenisch led the defense with 26 digs. Guest had 10 digs and five service aces.
Catherine Moore led all hitters with 16 kills for the Oles, who hit .198. Brynne Gray had 16 assists and 14 digs and Selena Rodriguez had 16 digs.
The Bennies are on the road again Saturday, Oct. 23, when they take on No. 25 Gustavus at 7 p.m. in St. Peter.
