ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict volleyball team continues its nonconference slate at the Wartburg Invite, hosted by Wartburg College, on September 20-21 in Waverly, Iowa.

CSB (2-6) will open the tournament against Simpson College (5-6) at 5 p.m. on Friday, September 20. On Saturday, September 21, the Bennies face Coe College (7-3) at 9:30 a.m., followed by a match against host Wartburg (5-4) at 1:30 p.m.

At the Trinity Fall Classic (Aug. 30-31), CSB played four matches, securing a 3-2 win over (RV) SUNY Cortland. However, the Bennies also suffered narrow losses to Texas Lutheran (3-2) and No. 15 Trinity (3-1), as well as a 3-0 defeat against 17th-ranked East Texas Baptist. CSB finished 1-2 at the Falcon Invite on Sept. 6-7, defeating Minnesota-Morris 3-0 but losing 3-1 to Simpson and 3-2 to UW-River Falls. On September 11, the Bennies fell 3-0 to (RV) UW-Eau Claire on the road.

St. Ben's – National and MIAC Highlights

Senior setter Audrey Spolidoro, who has six double-doubles this season and 42 in her career, ranks 30th nationally and second in the MIAC with 9.63 assists per set, totaling 308 assists. Sophomore outside hitter Kali Jones, with two double-doubles this season (12 career), ranks fifth in the MIAC with 3.61 kills/set (103 total). Junior Mackenzie Knofczynski is third in the MIAC with 0.88 blocks/set (28 total), while Jones is fourth in attacks/set at 9.84 (315). Junior defensive specialist Chaeli Haupert leads the team with 119 digs (3.72/set), followed by Jones with 87 (2.72/set), and Spolidoro with 83 (2.59/set). Sophomore McKenna Moehrle averages 2.72 kills/set (72 total) with a .222 hitting percentage, while Knofczynski averages 2.28 kills/set and hits .243. First-year Emma Flanders has contributed 2.50 kills/set with a .180 hitting percentage.

As a team, CSB ranks third in the MIAC with 1.69 blocks per set and fifth in kills per set at 11.97. Their overall hitting percentage is .171, ranking sixth in the conference.

Wartburg Invite Matchups – Key Information

Simpson Notes/Series Info: CSB holds a 25-6 all-time record against Simpson College, winning nine of the last 11 matchups. Simpson won their last meeting 3-1 earlier this season, but CSB's most recent victory came on Sept. 8, 2023, with a 3-2 win at UW-River Falls. Simpson currently holds a 5-6 record, with recent wins over Saint Mary's (Minn.) and Rose-Hulman, but has lost five of their last six matches. Simpson is led by right-side hitter Emmy Seiler with 92 kills (2.19 per set), sophomore Emily Williams with 105 kills (2.50 per set), and junior setter Morgan DenBeste, who averages 4.20 assists per set.

Coe College Notes/Series Info: Against Coe College, CSB has a 5-1 record and is on a two-match win streak. Their last encounter was a 3-0 CSB win on Oct. 12, 2018. Coe College, with a 7-3 record this season, is on a six-match winning streak under head coach DeAnn Akins, who has led the team since 2006 and boasts a 372-219 record.

Wartburg Notes/Series Info: In their series with Wartburg, CSB leads 14-6, though the Knights have won the last two meetings, including a 3-0 victory in 2016. Wartburg holds a 5-4 record this season and is directed by co-head coaches Jennifer Walker and Doug Frazell. Wartburg's recent performance includes a 3-0 win over UW-La Crosse and a 3-1 loss to Illinois College.

Spolidoro Earlier Earned Third Career MIAC Specialist of the Week Honor

Audrey Spolidoro was named the MIAC Volleyball Specialist of the Week on September 3, following her standout performance at the Trinity Fall Classic. She averaged 10.29 assists per set, recorded two double-doubles, and contributed 175 assists, 35 digs, nine block assists, eight service aces, and seven kills. This is her third MIAC Specialist of the Week honor, with previous recognitions on September 18 and October 2, 2023. She currently ranks eighth all-time at Saint Benedict with 2,640 career assists.

All-Falcon Invite Team Honors go to Spolidoro, Moehrle

Spolidoro and sophomore McKenna Moehrle were named to the All-Falcon Invite Team. Spolidoro averaged 9.33 assists, 3.0 digs and recorded three double-doubles in the tournament, while Moehrle averaged 2.50 kills per set with a .277 hitting percentage and led the team in solo blocks.

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)