ST. JOSEPH, Minn. - The College of Saint Benedict volleyball team, which has opened 8-2 in nonconference play, is ready to begin MIAC competition with two pivotal matchups: a road contest at No. 21 Gustavus Adolphus on Friday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m., followed by a home game against Hamline on Saturday, Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. at Claire Lynch Hall.

The Bennies (8-2, 0-0 MIAC) will be facing their second straight ranked opponent in Gustavus (12-2, 0-0 MIAC), a team off to a strong start under first-year head coach Jacob Voss. The following night, CSB will host Hamline (4-5, 0-0 MIAC), coached by Kylee Zumach in her second season.

On Saturday, CSB will host "Alum Night" with popcorn and beverages provided to all alums, courtesy of the CSB Alumnae Office.

Building Momentum
Saint Benedict enters conference play after splitting two matches at the Coe Tournament. The team dropped a hard-fought battle against the host, Coe College, before bouncing back with a four-set win over Cornell. Prior to that, the Bennies dominated the UMass Boston Tournament, sweeping all three matches—including a record-setting 18 service aces in a sweep of Salem State.

CSB opened the 2025 season by winning all four matches at its home tournament, showcasing a balanced attack, a strong defensive identity, and one of the top service games in the MIAC.

Recent Highlights & Milestones
In their most recent match against UW-Eau Claire, senior defensive specialist Chaeli Haupert reached a major milestone—tallying her 1,000th career dig. She currently ranks 8th in the MIAC with 3.83 digs per set and 12th in service aces per set (0.46). At the Coe Tournament, she recorded 31 total digs and leads a deep CSB defense.

Junior outside hitter Kali Jones added another double-double to her resume—her 27th career performance with double-digit kills and digs. Jones ranks 7th in the MIAC in kills per set (2.85) and has been a consistent offensive presence with 650 career kills.

Sophomore setter Izzy Torve has also emerged as a key contributor, ranking third in the MIAC in service aces per set (0.63) and seventh in assists per set (6.10). She had a career-high 34 assists in the win over Cornell and already has three double-doubles this season.

At the net, senior middle blocker Mackenzie Knofczynski ranks second in the MIAC in blocks per set (1.06) and has 717 career kills to go along with 282 blocks.    

Series History
Against Gustavus, the Bennies hold a 23-17 all-time advantage, including a sweep in their last meeting—3-0 in the MIAC Tournament on Nov. 14, 2024. CSB is 7-11 in St. Peter but 13-6 at home in the series. The first meeting between the teams came on Oct. 4, 1993, a 3-0 CSB win.
The Bennies have dominated the series with Hamline, holding a 33-5 all-time lead. CSB is 16-3 at home against the Pipers and won last season's matchup in straight sets on Oct. 25, 2024.

Stat Leaders & MIAC Rankings
Saint Benedict enters the MIAC season leading the conference in service aces per set (2.74) and is second in total aces (96). The team ranks:

• 3rd in digs/set (17.89)
• 4th in blocks/set (1.80)
• 6th in kills/set (11.63), assists/set (10.77), and hitting percentage (.167)

The serving game has been outstanding, with the Bennies breaking a program record for most aces in a three-set match (18 vs. Salem State). Haupert (6 aces) and Torve (5 aces) both set career highs in that match.

Coach Nicole Hess: A Steady Hand at the Helm
In her 16th season, head coach Nicole Hess continues to lead the program with distinction. With a 280-143 career record at CSB (.659), including a .714 winning percentage in MIAC play, Hess has developed one of the MIAC's most consistent programs. Under her leadership, CSB has produced 14 All-Americans and 76 All-Region honorees.