WINONA, MINN. – Emma Guest set a career-best with 23 kills and added 13 digs while Gabby Heying and Audrey Spolidoro also recorded double doubles  to lift the College of Saint Benedict (13-7, 5-1 MIAC) to its fourth straight victory in a closely-contest 3-2 (16-25, 27-25, 25-22, 24-26, 16-14) decision over Saint Mary's (9-12, 2-4 MIAC) on Friday night.

With the tough five-set decision in their favor, CSB improved to 13-7 on the season and with a 5-1 record sit in second place in the MIAC, just a game out of first place.

Guest, a junior outside hitter, had her best night of her career with 23 kills on a career-high 62 attacks (.145 hitting pct.) while adding two service aces. On a night when she had her third 20-kill performance of her career, she also accounted for a career-best 25.5 points.

CSB Head Coach Nicole Hess was pleased with the resiliency of her team.

"I am very proud of our fight tonight," said Hess, who now has 302 career wins with 238 at St. Bens. "It wasn't easy and we found a way to win. Our conference is so talented and every night is a battle."

CSB, which improved to 4-1 in five-set matches this season, finished with 65 kills on 200 attacks (32 errors) with a .165 hitting mark. In addition, the Bennies registered seven aces and 13 total blocks.

Heying, a senior first-team All-MIAC performer, continued her outstanding season with her 23^rd career double double on 14 kills while tying a career-best with 20 digs. She now has 51 matches with double-digit kills, including 18 this year (17 in a row).

First-year middle blocker Mackenzie Knofczynski added 12 kills on 29 attacks with just two errors for a .345 hitting mark. She had her sixth double-digit kill performance this season. Sophomore setter, Audrey Spolidoro, who leads the MIAC in assists, registered 56 assists, which was her second-best mark of her career, while adding 16 digs and three kills. Mackenzie McDonald had 25 digs (2^nd best mark of the season), three assists and two service aces.

CSB, which travels to Carleton College on Saturday (Oct. 15) for a 5 pm match, lost the first set, 25-16 before rebounding with a 27-25 decision in set two and a 25-22 win in set three for a 2-1 advantage. In a back-and-fourth fourth set, the Cardinals rallied to take a 26-24 win. Then, the fifth set was a thriller with the Bennies taking a 16-14 win for their 13^th win of the season.

Match Breakdown –
In the opening set, SMU had a .300 (12 kills on 30 attacks and 3 errors) hitting mark to pull away late. CSB managed just .036 hitting on the set as they had eight kills and seven errors on 28 attacks. It was close early with the set drawing even at 10-10. At 15-14, SMU had a six-point run to take a 21-14 and cruised to the 25-16 win.

In the second set, the two teams clearly battled. CSB had a .208 hitting mark by converting 17 kills on 48 attacks with seven errors. SMU hit .160 with 15 kills on 50 attacks with seven errors. The set opened with the two teams trading points and drawing even at 10-10. The Bennies took a 13-10 lead and held a 16-14 advantage  before SMU rallied for a 18-17 lead when Guest tied it with a kill. St. Bens scored three straight for a 21-18 lead before SMU responded with four points in a row to take a 22-21 lead. Down a point, CSB had two straight points for the 25-24- lead and after a tie at 25, the Bennies scored two straight to take the 27-25 win and tie the match at a set each.

In the third set, CSB rallied late behind the work of Knofczynski. The Bennies hit .133 with 15 kills on 45 attacks and nine errors but SMU had 11 kills on 41 attacks and eight errors to hit .073. The Bennies jumped to 8-5 and 10-7 lead before SMU tied it at 13-13. Down 15-17, CSB rallied for a tie at 22-22. Knofczynski had two kills for a 23-22 lead and then McDonald's service ace clinched the set at 25-22 for a 2-1 CSB lead.

The final two sets were intense with both teams putting together rallies as the other side worked for side outs. In set four, CSB had a .190 hitting mark on 11 kills with 42 attacks but SMU rallied for the win as they hit .295 with 18 kills on 44 attacks and just five errors. It was close throughout as CSB trailed 10-7 before rallying to within a point at 10-11. Then the Bennies had an 8-to-6 run for an 18-17 lead.  St. Ben's even led, 20-17 but the Cardinals scored three straight for a tie. With a 6-4 run, SMU close the set and forced a fifth and deciding set.

In the that final set, CSB outhit SMU, .216-to-193 and had a 14-to-6 edge in kills. But nonetheless it went to the wire. With a kill from Paige Andrius, CSB took a 3-1 lead and Heying's 11^th of the match kill provided a 7-3 lead. Later, the Bennies led, 10-6, after Olivia Thompson had her fifth kill. But SMU rallied to tie the set at 10. Once again, Heying came up big and registered consecutive kills for a 14-12 lead. Down 15-14, SMU had an attack error as the Bennies came away with a hard-fought win, its third straight over SMU and 26^th in 37 matchups all-time.