ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – After five three-set matches in the Spring 2021 season, the College of Saint Benedict volleyball team ended its shortened season with a marathon match.
 
The Bennies and Gustavus went five sets Wednesday night in Claire Lynch, and the Gusties came away 3-2 winners in a match where no team won any set by more than five points. After losing the first set 25-23, Saint Benedict came back to win the next two 25-20 and 25-20. The Gusties took the fourth set extra points to win 27-25, and finished the match with a 15-12 win in the fifth and final set.
 
CSB wraps up the season 4-2 overall. The match marked the last for the team's four seniors: Hunter Weiss, Madison Weiss, Bridget McDonald and Katie Koch. All four played key roles for the team in the five-set marathon Wednesday.
 
The first set featured several short runs by each team, and Gustavus (3-1) was able to put together a late run and then hold on for the two-point win.
 
The second set was close until Gabby Heying recorded a pair of kills and teamed up with Madison on a block to make it 18-15, and another kill from Heying, a kill from Emma Guest and a solo block from Madison made it 21-16. A Hunter Weiss kill and a Gustie attack error put the Bennies at match point, and a kill from Olivia Thompson ended the set and tied the match 1-1.
 
The Bennies led 8-3 early in the third set thanks to several Gustavus attack errors, a kill from Thompson and a service ace from McDonald. CSB pushed its lead to 16-7 thanks to two more Gustavus attack errors. The Gusties got within 18-14, but another kill from Thompson and a service ace from Maurissa Isaacs made it 20-14, and a pair of kills from Guest made it 24-19 and Thompson ended the match once again with a kill.
 
Saint Benedict looked to be in charge and ready to come away with the win after taking a 19-13 lead on another Isaacs service ace in the fourth set, and a kill from Madison made it 21-14. A kill by Guest gave the Bennies match point, but the Gusties rattled of five straight points to tie the set at 24-24. Madison added another kill to give CSB match point again, but Gustavus scored three straight points to win 27-25 and force a fifth set.
 
The Gusties held a slim lead early in the fifth set, and then built on that lead with a pair of three-point runs midway through the set. Gustavus led 9-7, and a kill from Heying made it 9-8, but the Gusties answered with another short run. A bad Gustie set and a kill from Madison made it 13-11, but a pair of kills ended the match.
 
Several players finished with season or career-high totals Wednesday, including first year libero Mackenzie McDonald, who tied the school record for digs in a match with 38. Victoria Nass originally set the record in 2013 in a match against St. Thomas. McDonald was one of five CSB athletes with double-digit digs Wednesday as the Bennies finished with 119 total digs.
 
Guest had a career-best 12 kills and 19 digs, and Isaacs tied her career-high with 18 digs. Koch just missed her career high as she delivered a season-best 57 assists against the Gusties. Her career best is 61 assists in the 2018 NCAA Tournament. Hunter wrapped up her career with 14 kills Wednesday and Madison finished with 13 kills and six total blocks. Heying also had 13 kills and Bridget McDonald finished with 16 digs.
 
The Bennies hit .180 as a team and recorded 63 kills.
 
Sarah Elliott paced Gustavus with 20 kills. Kasie Tweet had 34 assists and 27 digs and Hailey Embacher finished with a team-best 34 digs. The Gusties hit .166 and had 68 kills and 114 digs.