ST. JOSEPH, Minn. -- The College of Saint Benedict volleyball team (6-10, 3-2 MIAC), which has won three of its past five matches, is set to begin a three game homestand as they host Northwestern (13-6, 7-0 UMAC) for a non-conference game at Claire Lynch Hall  on Friday, October 18 at 7 p.m.
 
CSB (6-10, 3-2 MIAC) has achieved six wins in its first 16 matches, primarily competing in various tournaments, and now beginning MIAC play. The Bennies, which will face Hamline on Oct. 25 and Gustavus Adolphus on Oct. 26 in home games at Claire Lynch Hall, recently dropped a 3-1 decision to Bethel (15-4, 5-0 MIAC) last Saturday in Arden Hills. CSB had a 3-1 win over College of St. Scholastica earlier in the weekend and sits 3-2 in league play. Meanwhile, Northwestern (13-6, 7-0 UMAC) defeated Crown College last Tuesday.
 
Northwestern scoop
Under the guidance of head coach Beth Wilmeth, who is in her 21st season with the Eagles, is currently 13-6 and 7-0 in league play. During the 2023 season, Wilmeth guided the Eagles to another historic season with an overall record of 32-5 and UMAC record of 14-0, along with a trip to the NCAA Division III tournament where they lost to New York University in the quarterfinals.

Northwestern is averaging 12.4 kills per set with 11.6 assists per set. They are averaging 16.1 digs per set, along with averaging 2.2 blocks per set.
 
The Eagles are led in kills by senior, Ari Schmidt, with 173 kills. Setters Grace Strickfadden and Addeson Jenniges are close in assists with 313 for senior Strickfadden, and 308 for freshman Jenniges.
 
Series Note -
The Bennies and Eagles are tied in the all-time series at 12-12. CSB recently fell short on Nov. 1, 2023, 3-1. Historically, CSB has a 4-4 record at Claire Lynch Hall.
 
Inside Look at St. Benedict
St. Benedict, directed by 15th-year head coach Nicole Hess, has recorded a total of 811 kills on the season, averaging 12.48 kills per set at fifth in the MIAC. CSB is also ranked fifth in assists averaging 11.29 per set along with third for 1.77 blocks per set, which ranks third in the MIAC. CSB is fourth in the MIAC with 115 total blocks.

Senior setter Audrey Spolidoro, leads the team in assists with 628, leaving her second in the MIAC, while also recording 49 career double doubles. A two-time All-MIAC performer who has earned two All-MIAC Specialist of the Week honors this year, ranks sixth all-time in assists at CSB with 3,093 or a career mark of 9.02/set. She is averaging 9.66 assists per set in 2024, just down from her career best mark of 10.15/set when she had 1,015 in 2022. With her 9.66 assists/set she ranks second in the MIC and 32^nd in NCAA DIII. She is also 38^th in total assists in DIII. Spolidoro is approaching the 3,000/assists and 1,000 digs club as she has 967 career digs. This year she is second on the team with 215 didgs or 3.31 per set.

On offense, Saint Benedict is led by sophomore, Kali Jones, who has recorded 200 kills on the season (8th in MIAC) with 137 digs, and 22 serve aces. Jones is averaging 3.08 kills per set and has totaled 635 attacks with a .134 hitting mark. She has 17 double-doubles in her career with nine this season. With 194 digs she ranks third in the team and has a per set mark of 2.94 digs.

McKenna Moehrle, a sophomore middle blocker, is hitting .229 with 165 kills on 415 attacks, or 2.54 kills/set. She also has 46 blocks or 0.71 per set.

Mackenzie Knofczynski is averaging 0.92 blocks per set for first in the MIAC and her 60 total blocks is second in the MIAC.  She has totaled 151 kills or 2.32/set with 401 attackis and a .212 hitting mark.

Chaeli Haupert ranks first on CSB with 257 digs or 3.95/set. She also has 18 service aces.
 
Hess leads CSB Volleyball
In 14 seasons, head coach Nicole Hess, who is coaching her 15^th season, has had tremendous success. She was inducted into the St. Olaf Athletic Hall of Fame in 2015 and has coached 12 All-Americans, 75 All-Central Region players, 34 All-MIAC athletes and 49 athletes who earned Academic All-MIAC honors. She is 263-139 overall at CSB and 105-43 in MIAC play. In her 21 seasons overall as a head coach, Hess is 327-271 overall and 120-105 in conference play. She recorded her 300th win with a 3-0 win over Macalester on Oct. 7, 2022. Hess led CSB to a national tournament berth each year from 2011-15, including a trip to the Sweet 16 in 2012, and made it back to the NCAA Tournament each year from 2017-19 with a 26-8 record and another Sweet 16 trip in 2018 and a 26-6 record and an Elite 8 appearance in 2019. She has won 18 or more games in nine of her 14 seasons, including four seasons with 21 wins or more. After a 12-13 finish in 2016, CSB went 19-9 in 2017 before reaching the 20-win milestone for the fourth time in her career in 2018.