ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – After winning its home opener, the College of Saint Benedict volleyball team is set to face a road test when they travel to Duluth, Minnesota to face MIAC opponent St. Scholastica on Saturday, October 5 at 3 p.m., in Duluth, Minn.

CSB (4-9, 1-1 MIAC) has achieved four wins in its first 13 matches, primarily competing in various tournaments. The Bennies will face St. Scholastica (8-8, 1-1 MIAC) who recently opened MIAC play against Augsburg taking a 3-2 win, but lost to Carleton, 3-1.

Last weekend, the Bennies opened the MIAC season with a 1-1 record. On Sept. 27 in Minneapolis, CSB dropped a 3-1 decision to Augsburg in the road MIAC opener. St. Benedict bounced back on Sept. 28 with a 3-0 MIAC win over St. Catherine in the home conference opener as Brooke Andries had 12 kills and Audrey Spolidoro recorded her 47th career double double. Prior to that, the Bennies participated in the Wartburg Invite, securing a 3-2 victory over Coe College but also facing tough losses against Simpson (3-2) and Wartburg (3-1). Earlier in the season at the Trinity Fall Classic, CSB had a notable 3-2 win over (RV) SUNY Cortland, although they suffered close losses to Texas Lutheran (3-2) and No. 15 Trinity (3-1), along with a 3-0 defeat against 17th-ranked East Texas Baptist. The Bennies finished 1-2 at the Falcon Invite, winning against Minnesota-Morris but falling to Simpson and UW-River Falls. On September 11, they lost 3-0 to (RV) UW-Eau Claire.

CSB Highlights –

Senior setter Audrey Spolidoro has made a significant impact this season, notching 11 double-doubles in 13 matches, including a streak of nine consecutive games. Recently honored as MIAC Specialist of the Week for her performance at the Wartburg Invite, she averaged 10.21 assists per set and has now accumulated 2,992 career set assists, ranking seventh all-time at CSB. This past weekend, she had two more double doubles and averaged 10.36 assists per set as CSB was 1-1. With 527 assists this year, she ranks first in the MIAC and 31st in DIII. 

Spolidoro is currently second in the MIAC and 22nd nationally with an average of 9.94 assists per set. Junior Mackenzie Knofczynski , was just named St. Cloud Orthopedic Athlete of the Week after averaging 3.29 kills per set in splitting two MIAC games. In the two games, she hit .203 with 23 kills on 59 attacks. Knofczynski also had four assists, and seven digs as CSB lost on the road to Augsburg, 3-1, before defeating St. Catherine, 3-0, in the home opener. Knofczynski leads the MIAC with 0.96 blocks per set (2nd in MIAC with 51 total blocks), while Jones is third in attacks per set.

Sophomore outside hitter Kali Jones has also been a standout, achieving five double-doubles this season and ranking seventh in the MIAC with an average of 3.13 kills per set. Defensive specialist Chaeli Haupert ranks 10th in the MIAC with 207 digs. As a team, CSB ranks second in the MIAC for blocks per set (1.79) and fifth for kills per set (12.46), with an overall hitting percentage of .161, placing them seventh in the conference.

Upcoming Matches – St. Scholastica
St. Scholastica Overview: CSB boasts a 18-5 all-time record against St. Scholastica, including a 3-1 win over Sept. 30, 2023 at home. The Bennies have won 8-of-10 against the Saints and own a 7-1 home record with an 8-2 away mark. In MIAC play, CSB has a 2-1 advantage. In the first matchup ever between the schools, St. Scholastica took a 3-0 decision on August 30, 2002.  

St. Scholastica, which is directed by first-year head coach Chelsea Meierotto, ranks ninth in the MIAC with 10.90 kills per set, hits .197 on attack attempts, and averages 10.10 assists for seventh in the league. Individually, Ava Swangstue leads the team with 2.43 kills/set and is hitting .315 on 219 attacks and 97 kills. The Saints have opened 8-8 with a 1-1 league record. 

 Season Recap 

• Aug. 30: No. 17 East Texas Baptist, L, 0-3 (20-25, 22-25, 12-25)
• Aug. 30: Texas Lutheran 2-3, L, (25-18, 15-25, 25-23, 17-25, 10-15)
• Aug. 31: RV SUNY Cortland, W, 3-2 (21-25, 26-24, 22-25, 25-17, 16-14)
• Aug. 31: No. 15 Trinity, L, 1-3 (27-25, 21-25, 21-25, 16-25)
• Sept. 6: Simpson, L, 1-3 (25-6, 23-25, 23-25, 20-25)
• Sept. 7: Minnesota Morris, WW, 3-0, 25-23, 25-23, 25-20)
• Sept. 7: UW-River Falls, L, 2-3 (22-25, 25-18, 25-23, 11-25, 11-15)
• Sept. 11: UW-Eau Claire, L., 3-0 (20-25, 18-25, 25-27)
• Sept. 20: Simpson, L, 2-3 (20-25, 23-25, 25-16, 25-23, 17-19)
• Sept. 21: Coe College, W, 3-2 (20-25, 25-14, 26-24, 19-25, 15-11)
• Sept. 21: Wartburg, L, 1-3 (28-26, 17-25, 19-25, 22-25)
• Sept. 27: Augsburg, L, 1-3 (26-24, 24-26, 19-25, 23-25)
• Sept. 28: St. Catherine, W, 3-0 (25-16, 25-21, 25-23)