ST. PETER, Minn. — The College of Saint Benedict volleyball team delivered another postseason thriller Thursday night, outlasting No. 2 seed and nationally ranked No. 23 Gustavus Adolphus, 3–2, to punch its ticket to the MIAC Playoff Championship for the second straight year.

A season ago, CSB stormed through the bracket as a No. 4 seed on its way to the title and an NCAA Division III Championship berth. On this night, the Bennies secured their fifth consecutive MIAC Playoff victory and their second straight road upset of the Gusties.

The win also marked Saint Benedict's 20th of the season—its 21st 20-win campaign in program history—and sets up a championship clash with regular-season champion St. Olaf at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, in Northfield. It will be the Bennies' 10th appearance in the conference final, with titles in 2009, 2017 and 2024.

Balanced Attack Powers Bennies
Junior Brooke Andries led a deep and balanced offense with 10 kills on 31 swings (.226). She was one of six Bennies to finish with six or more kills. Senior Mackenzie Knofczynski turned in a standout all-around performance with nine kills (.273), three of CSB's nine aces, and four blocks.

First-year Keira McManus added nine kills (.250), tied a school record with six blocks, and collected seven digs. Senior McKenna Moehrle was exceptional at the net with six kills and a career-best seven blocks. Kate Stadum added eight kills and a block, while Kali Jones contributed nine kills and a team-high 23 digs, plus two aces.

Setters Ginny Schuler (19 assists, 11 digs) and Izzy Torve (21 assists, 12 digs) each posted double-doubles. Senior defensive anchor Chaeli Haupert added 16 digs, pushing her career total to 1,288.

CSB controlled the net all night, finishing with 11 team blocks along with 52 kills and 95 digs.

Game Summary -
Set 1:
The opener swung back and forth before Gustavus edged out a 25–22 win. CSB led, 14–11, at one point but couldn't hold off the Gusties' late push.

Set 2:
Down 18–14, the Bennies mounted a six-point surge fueled by three Knofczynski aces to take control. Key kills from Andries, Moehrle and Stadum helped seal a 25–22 victory as CSB hit .281 in the frame.

Set 3:
The Bennies asserted themselves, turning an early 3–1 deficit into a commanding 19–11 lead behind kills from Moehrle, McManus and Stadum, who closed the set, 25–18.

Set 4:
CSB jumped in front 13–6, but Gustavus clawed back, tying the set and ultimately using a late run to take it 25–19. The set win forced a decisive fifth set.

Set 5:
Moehrle's block sparked an early 4–2 CSB lead, and the Bennies kept their composure after Gustavus tied the set 7–7 and briefly went ahead. Andries delivered a momentum-shifting kill to even the score at 8–8, and Saint Benedict rattled off three straight points to go up, 10–8. Blocks from Moehrle and Knofczynski built a 12–9 cushion, and CSB closed out the match from there.