ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The College of Saint Benedict volleyball team started the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference season with a win over Hamline University in straight sets. With the win, CSB moves to 9-5 overall and 1-0 in MIAC play.

Hamline jumped out to a quick 5-1 lead in the first set, but the Bennies battled back to a 9-9 tie. CSB was able to extend its lead to 20-16, but the Pipers rattled off four in a row to tie things up at 21 points apiece. Hamline had serve for set point, but Mackenzie Knofczynski had a huge kill to notch the score at 24. A Hamline attack error and an Olivia Thompson kill sealed a 26-24 win for Saint Ben's. The Bennies hit .250 in the set with 16 kills on 40 attempts.

The first half of the second set was very evenly matched as both teams traded points back and fourth. The Bennies put together two small rallies to go up 17-13 and CSB was able to score five of the last seven points to seal a 25-20 win. Saint Ben's hit .214 in the set with 14 kills on 42 swings.

Saint Benedict scored the first three points of the third set, but the Pipers put together a run to take a 10-6 advantage. CSB's Gabby Heying rattled off four serves in a row to retake the lead at 11-10. The Bennies were firmly in control of the remainder of the set and cruised to a 25-19 win. The Bennie defense held the Hamline Pipers to just a 0.029 hitting percentage in the set.

For the match, the Bennie offense was led by the duo of Heying and Knofczynski, who finished with 16 and 11 kills respectively. Heying led all players with a match-high 16 kills on 38 swings with five errors, hitting at a .289 clip. Heying added nine digs and a solo block. Knofczynski led CSB with a .364 hitting percentage, recording 11 kills on the night. Mackenzie McDonald anchored the Bennie defense with a match-high 21 digs, while Chaeli Haupert added 16 digs -- her fourth match in a row with double-digit digs. Audrey Spolidoro dished out a match-high 38 assists.

CSB returns to action on Saturday, hosting its home season opener against No. 3 ranked University of Northwestern at 3 p.m.