WAVERLY, Iowa – Sophomore middle blocker McKenna Moehrle recorded a season-high 15 kills, while Audrey Spolidoro and Kali Jones each posted double-doubles in a hard-fought 3-2 loss for the College of Saint Benedict volleyball team against Simpson (6-6) at the Wartburg Invite on Friday night.

With the loss, CSB fell to 2-7 on the season. They are set to face Coe College at 9:30 a.m. and host Wartburg at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21. Despite the result, the Bennies nearly staged a remarkable comeback. After dropping the first two sets, St. Ben's won the next two (25-16, 25-23) to even the match. In the deciding fifth set, the Bennies rallied from deficits of 6-0 and 13-9, tying the game and even taking the lead before falling 17-19.

CSB recorded their second-highest kill total of the season with 61 on a season-high 216 attacks. They also notched a season-best 114 digs and added 12 total blocks, the most this year. Their 114 digs were the highest in a match since 2021, when they tallied 119 against Gustavus. The Bennies added five solo blocks and nine service aces, their third-highest total this season.

Moehrle's career-best 15 kills came on 40 attacks, hitting .150 while adding three blocks. It was her fifth match this season with double-digit kills.

Senior setter Audrey Spolidoro contributed four kills, two solo blocks, and five block assists, recording her fifth straight double-double (seventh this year) and the 44th of her career. She dished out 52 assists with 22 digs, reaching 50 assists for the second time this season and marking her fifth game with 40 or more assists. In addition, the standout senior moved into seventh place on CSB's career assists chart at 2,825 and is just 227 from sixth place (Megan Pekarek, 3,052, 2015-17).

Sophomore Kali Jones also posted a double-double, which was the 13th of her career, with 11 kills on 55 attacks and 22 digs. Sophomore hitter Brooke Andries made her return to the lineup, tallying 11 kills on 38 attacks with a .184 hitting percentage.

Game Summary

In the first set, CSB fell, 25-20, despite a 13-10 edge in kills. CSB was hurt by 11 errors on 52 attacks for a .038 hitting percentage. The second set saw Simpson rally from a 20-15 deficit with a late 10-3 run to win 25-23. CSB hit .104 in the set with 11 kills on 48 attacks. CSB began its rally in the third set, dominating with 13 kills compared to Simpson's 6, while also adding four service aces and four total blocks. The Bennies continued their rally in the fourth set with 14 kills and three service aces, taking it, 25-23.

In the decisive fifth set, Simpson jumped to a 6-0 lead and later led, 13-9. CSB fought back to tie the game three times, even taking the lead at 16-15 and 17-16, before ultimately falling, 19-17. CSB registered 10 kills on 42 attacks in the final set but struggled with a 47% side-out rate (9-19).