DULUTH, Minn. (csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica volleyball team returns to Reif Gymnasium on Friday and Saturday as it will host the University of Minnesota Morris on Friday night and Crown College Saturday afternoon.
Match Schedule: (Game Day Media)
Friday vs. Minnesota Morris – 7 p.m.
(Live Video & Stats on Saints Sports Net | Alternative Live Stats)
Saturday vs. Crown – 1 p.m.
(Live Video & Stats on Saints Sports Net | Alternative Live Stats)
About the Saints
Record: 11-9, 6-1 UMAC
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The Saints enter the second half of UMAC play tied for first with Northwestern College.
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CSS is just 2-2 at home so far this season after going 10-0 last year.
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The Saints lead the UMAC in digs per set, averaging 16.8.
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They also lead the league with 45 solo blocks.
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Anna Zyvoloski (Sauk Rapids, Minn./St. Cloud Cathedral HS (Minn.-Duluth)) leads the conference with 294 kills and is third with a .298 hitting percentage.
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Zyvoloski is ranked sixth in the nation averaging 5.09 points per set.
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Erika Birkeland (Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake HS) is third in the conference, averaging 8.61 assists per set.
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Danielle Benusa (Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee HS) is fourth in the UMAC with 3.94 digs per set.
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The Saints are just 1-7 when the match goes longer than three sets and that lone win came against Minnesota Morris.
About the Cougars
Record: 16-6, 5-2 UMAC
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Since falling to the Saints, the Cougars have rattled off seven straight wins, including a victory over conference leader Northwestern College.
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Morris leads the conference in hitting percentage (.246), kills per set (13.2) and assists per set (12.4).
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Kaylie Clark leads the conference with 5.04 digs per set and set a program record for digs in a match in the five-set loss to the Saints earlier this season.
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Leading the attack for the Cougars is Emily Auch with 237 kills.
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Abby Tietz had a big match against the Saints in the first meeting with a season-high 25 kills.
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The Cougars are ranked 13th in the nation, averaging 12.3 assists per set.
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Hannah Knott is 37th in NCAA Division III, averaging 1.07 blocks per set.
Series History: (CSS is 22-9 vs. Minnesota Morris)
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For the third straight time, the Saints rallied from a two-set deficit to defeat the Cougars in five sets earlier this season in Morris.
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Zyvoloski had 26 kills in the victory.
About the Storm
Record: 3-18, 1-6 UMAC
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The Storm started the season 2-2, but then went on a 15-match losing streak before defeating North Central University last Friday.
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Crown is 0-6 on the road this season.
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The Storm are ranked in the lower half of the conference in most statistical categories, except service aces per set in which they are third with 1.91 per set.
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Trisha Birr is only player above 100 kills this season at 125.
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Jody Mundt has 232 set assists this season.
Series History: (CSS is 24-0 vs. Crown)
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The Saints have swept the last 11 matches against the Storm, last dropping a set in 2006.
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CSS has only dropped two sets all time against Crown.
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Zyvoloski had 12 kills to lead the Saints in the sweep of the Storm earlier this season.
