RIVER FALLS, Wis. – The College of Saint Benedict (2-5) split two games on Saturday (Sept. 7) at the Falcon Invite. The Bennies had a 3-0 victory over Minnesota-Morris (0-4) but fell to 3-2 to host UW-River Falls (3-3).

The Bennies, who will next travel to Wisconsin-Eau Claire on September 11, concluded the Falcon Invite with a 1-2 record and now hold a 2-5 mark for the season.

By the Numbers – Over the course of the three matches at the Falcon Invite, CSB averaged 12.42 kills per set, totaling 149 kills on 415 attacks for a .214 hitting percentage. The Bennies also averaged 10.58 assists per set, 1.17 service aces, 1.83 blocks, and 15.8 digs per set. Senior setter Audrey Spolidoro, who recorded three double-doubles, who averaged 9.33 assists and 3.0 digs per set. Kali Jones contributed 42 kills (3.50 per set) and 3.25 digs per set. Spolidoro now has 41 career double-doubles, while Jones has 19.


CSB 3 Minnesota Morris 0

Audrey Spolidoro notched her 40th career double-double with 33 assists and 13 digs, leading CSB to a 3-0 win over Minnesota-Morris. Sophomores McKenna Moehrle and Kali Jones each recorded 11 kills.

The Bennies overcame late deficits in the first two sets before taking control in the third set to secure the win. Moehrle, for the fourth consecutive game, posted double-digit kills with 11 on 22 attacks, hitting .455, and added four blocks. Jones, who recorded her fourth double-double of the season and 18th of her career, hit .156 with 11 kills and 12 digs. Junior Mackenzie Knofczynski also contributed with seven kills and a .467 hitting percentage.

As a team, CSB had 42 kills on 107 attacks with 13 errors for a .271 hitting percentage. They also recorded 39 assists, seven team blocks, and 57 digs. In the first set, CSB came from behind to win 25-23, hitting .186 with 14 kills on 43 attacks. They continued their momentum in the second set with a .310 hitting percentage, earning 13 kills on 29 attacks.

UW-River Falls 3 CSB 2

Despite strong performances from Kali Jones and Audrey Spolidoro, CSB fell 3-2 to UW-River Falls. Jones recorded 18 kills and 18 digs, marking her 19th career double-double, with a .204 hitting percentage. Mackenzie Knofczynski added 11 kills on 29 attacks, hitting .241, and contributed with a solo block and five block assists.

Overall, CSB had 53 kills on 165 attacks, with 28 errors, for a .152 hitting percentage. They also recorded four service aces and 69 digs. In the first set, CSB out-hit UW-RF but lost 25-22. The Bennies rebounded in the second set with 15 kills on 38 attacks, hitting .289, to win 25-17 and even the match. In the third set, CSB edged UW-RF 25-23 with a slight advantage in kills and hitting percentage. However, the Falcons dominated the fourth set with a 15-to-7 kill advantage and a high sideout success rate. In the deciding fifth set, UW-RF outpaced CSB with 11 kills and converted 7-of-11 sideouts to secure a 15-11 victory.