ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – Led by Brooke Andries and Audrey Spolidoro, the College of Saint Benedict volleyball team delivered a strong performance, defeating St. Catherine,3-0, in their home MIAC opener. With the victory, CSB improved to 4-9 overall and 1-1 in MIAC play.

Andries led the Bennies with 12 kills, hitting an impressive .391. This marks her third match of the season with double-digit kills. Senior setter Audrey Spolidoro also shined, recording her 47th career double-double with 34 set assists and 20 digs. Spolidoro added four kills in six attacks for a .667 hitting mark and provided four blocks assists.

In the win over SCU, the Bennies had a solid team effort, totaling 44 kills on 129 attacks and hitting .147 overall. St. Ben's also recorded seven service aces, seven total blocks, and 69 digs.

 Junior Mackenzie Knofczynski added nine kills, two service aces, and four blocks, while sophomore McKenna Moehrle contributed nine kills as well. Junior Chaeli Haupert helped with 13 digs and two service aces.

In the first set, CSB established control with an 11-6 advantage in kills, winning 25-16.

After trailing 13-9 the Bennies rallied with a 7-1 run to grab a 16-14 advantage over the Wildcats in the second set. With Andries' third kill of the set, CSB took a 20-17 lead. CSB, which hit .167 on 16 kills in 42 attacks, took a 25-19 win. In the set, St. Ben's had four aces and three total blocks. Through two sets CSB had six service aces and six total blocks.

With five early kills in the third set, the Wildcats took an 8-4 lead. With Madison Fagan providing two kills, SCU then built a 17-11 lead. But in its home opener, St. Ben's rallied. With an 8-1 run, the Bennies drew within, 18-17, after Andries had two straight kills, including her ninth of the game. A block and a kill by Knofczynski helped the Bennies into a 20-20 tie. SCU scored two straight points for a 22-20 edge. When, Spolidoro's kill tied the set at 23-23, the momentum shifted back to the Bennies which closed the set and the game at 25-23. In the set CSB was successful on 62 percent of its sideouts (15-of-24).

Next, CSB will face the College of St. Scholastica on Oct. 5 at 3 p.m. in Duluth, followed by a home match against Macalester College at 7 p.m. at Claire Lynch Hall.