DULUTH, Minn. – In a thrilling five-set battle on Friday night at Reif Gym, the College of Saint Benedict volleyball team (now 12-5, 3-1 MIAC) rallied their way back from a 2-1 deficit to earn a 3-2 win over MIAC foe College of Saint Scholastica (11-8, 3-2 MIAC). With the win, CSB solidified its spot in second place in the MIAC standings and extended its recent hot streak, winning four of its last five games.
The Bennies pulled off the comeback with set scores of 25-27, 25-19, 23-25, 25-14, and 16-14. They totaled 56 kills, 10 blocks, and 58 digs in a well-rounded team effort.
Leading the charge were
Brooke Siegle and
Kali Jones, who each recorded double doubles. Siegle matched her career high with 13 kills on an efficient .310 hitting percentage, adding a career-best 16 digs and two service aces. Jones notched the 30th double double of her career, finishing with 12 kills, 13 digs, and a service ace.
Also stepping up for the Bennies was
Mackenzie Knofczynski, who tallied 10 kills on just 20 swings for a .350 hitting percentage. She also added five key blocks and a service ace.
Keira McManus chipped in with nine kills and sealed the match with the final point off an assist from
Ginny Schuler. McManus hit .261 on the night.
Defensively,
Chaeli Haupert anchored the back row with a team-high 19 digs. The setting duties were shared effectively by
Izzy Torve (22 assists, three aces) and
Ginny Schuler (20 assists, two aces, six digs).
Set-by-Set Recap:
- Set 1: CSB came out strong, briefly taking a 21-20 lead after trailing, 19-17. However, the Saints closed on a 7-4 run to steal the opener, 27-25. Knofczynski was a bright spot, hitting .667 with four kills in the set.
- Set 2: The Bennies responded with a dominant effort, led by Siegle's five kills. CSB took an 18-14 lead and never looked back, evening the match with a 25-19 win while hitting .235.
- Set 3: In a tightly contested frame, CSB held a 12-11 edge before St. Scholastica surged ahead with a 10-6 run. The Saints took the set, 25-23, despite the Bennies hitting .167.
- Set 4: Facing elimination, the Bennies came out firing. A .381 hitting percentage early helped them build a commanding 19-11 lead. They finished with 12 kills and just three errors for a 25-14 win, forcing a decisive fifth set.
- Set 5: The final set was a battle from start to finish. CSB jumped out to a 10-6 lead before the Saints tied it at 14-14. A clutch kill by Brooke Andries made it 15-14, and McManus sealed the deal with a final kill off a set from Schuler, giving CSB the 16-14 victory.
Up Next:
The Bennies return home for a quick turnaround, hosting St. Catherine (6-12, 2-2 MIAC) on Saturday, Oct. 11 at 5 p.m. at Claire Lynch Hall. The match is part of Youth Day festivities.
