ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict volleyball team is off to a strong 9-3 (1-1 in the MIAC) start in 2025 and faces a busy and challenging weekend with three games.  

The Bennies open with a MIAC showdown against Macalester on Friday, Oct. 3, before hitting the road for two nonconference matchups Saturday at the UW-River Falls Quadrangular—facing UW-River Falls and No. 3-ranked UW-Oshkosh.
 
Saint Benedict kicks off the action Friday night at 7 p.m. at the Leonard Center in St. Paul against Macalester in MIAC play. Then it's on to River Falls, Wis., where CSB faces the host Falcons at 1 p.m., followed by a matchup with No. 3 UW-Oshkosh at 5 p.m. inside Don Page Arena in the UW-River Falls Quadrangular.

Scouting the Opponents
Macalester (3-11, 0-2 MIAC) is led by fifth-year head coach Mary Johnson. The Scots average just under 10 kills per set and lean on outside hitter Avery Rade, who paces the offense with 2.50 kills/set. Defensively, Elizabeth Joo leads the team with 3.11 digs/set. CSB holds a commanding 36-5 lead in the all-time series, including a 13-match win streak. The Bennies earned a 3-1 win in the last meeting on Oct. 11, 2024.

UW-River Falls (9-9, 0-2 WIAC) brings a balanced offensive attack into Saturday's matchup. Head coach Dipen Patel, now in his fifth season, oversees a team that averages 11.8 kills and 15.2 digs per set. The Falcons feature a trio of standout hitters: Ava Goldsberry (2.69 k/s), Kelsey Klesner (2.63 k/s), and Lauren Noth (2.41 k/s). The all-time series is tight, with CSB leading 9-4. However, River Falls claimed a 3-2 win earlier this season on Sept. 7.

UW-Oshkosh (16-2, 2-0 WIAC) enters the weekend ranked No. 3 nationally by the AVCA/Taraflex poll. Under eighth-year head coach Jon Ellmann, the Titans have been dominant—posting 13.8 kills and 17.6 digs per set. Samantha Perlberg is a force on the outside with 271 kills (4.52/set), supported by Grace Juergens (3.43 k/s). CSB trails the all-time series 6-1, with their lone win coming in a five-set thriller back in 1994.

Bennies Building Momentum
The Bennies are coming off a solid MIAC weekend, splitting two matches with a 3-1 loss at No. 21 Gustavus and a 3-1 win at home over Hamline. The previous weekend included a hard-fought loss to No. 10 UW-Eau Claire and a split at the Coe Tournament, highlighted by a four-set victory over Cornell.

CSB began the season by sweeping all four matches at its home tournament and carried that momentum into a perfect showing at the UMass Boston Invitational, where the team set a program record with 18 service aces in a three-set win over Salem State.

Player Highlights & Key Contributors
Chaeli Haupert reached a major milestone in the UW-Eau Claire match, recording her 1,000th career dig. The senior defensive specialist now ranks 8th in the MIAC in digs (3.86/set) and 9th in aces (0.49/set). She's totaled 21 aces this season and has hit double-digit digs in 10 matches, including a season-high 23 vs. Luther.

Kali Jones, a junior outside hitter, continues to shine. With six matches of 10+ kills and 10 double-digit dig efforts, she now has 28 career double-doubles. Jones ranks 8th in the MIAC in kills (2.80/set) and 7th in digs (3.95/set), while tallying 115 kills and 162 digs this season.

Izzy Torve, a sophomore setter, has emerged as a dynamic playmaker. She's 4th in the MIAC in aces (0.53/set) and 9th in assists (5.56/set), notching a career-high 34 assists against Cornell and logging four double-doubles already this year.

Brooke Andries and Brooke Siegle have provided strong support at the net. Andries, a junior outside hitter, has 75 kills (1.8/set) and 421 career kills, while Siegle, a first-year, is contributing 1.77 kills/set and 1.97 digs/set.
In the middle, Mackenzie Knofczynski is a dominant presence. The senior ranks 3rd in the MIAC with 0.98 blocks/set, adding 77 kills (1.79/set) this year to bring her career total to 725 kills and 290 blocks.

Stat Leaders & MIAC Rankings
CSB boasts the MIAC's top service game among other rankings - 

• 1st in service aces per set (2.63)
• 2nd in total aces (113)
• 3rd in digs/set (17.40)
• 5th in blocks/set (1.65)
• 6th in kills/set (11.44) and assists/set (10.51)
• 7th in hitting percentage (.167)

Their record-setting ace performance against Salem State was a showcase of their depth—Haupert (6 aces) and Torve (5 aces) both set career highs.

Head Coach Nicole Hess has 281 wins
At the helm for her 16th season, Nicole Hess continues to guide Saint Benedict with poise and excellence. With a career record of 281-144 (.657) at CSB (345-276 overall)  and a remarkable .714 winning percentage in MIAC play, Hess has built one of the most respected programs in the region. Her tenure has produced 14 All-Americans and 76 All-Region honorees.