Notables-CSS has now lost eight straight 5-set matches-St. Ben's Megan Pekarek had a triple-double-CSS' Jansen had a career-high 29 assists-Hitting percentage: CSS-.256, CSB-.193
ST. JOSEPH, Minn. (
csssaints.com) – For the second time in eight days the St. Scholastica volleyball team saw itself down two sets only to rally and force a fifth set Wednesday night at the College of Saint Benedict. Once again the Saints came up short falling to the Blazers in five sets.
The Saints held a 21-20 lead in the first set, but the Blazers responded with three straight kills to go up 23-21. CSS tied it up at 23-23, but St. Ben's got a kill and an ace to take the opening set 25-23.
The second set featured 12 ties, but only one lead change as neither team recorded more than three consecutive points. The Saints were on the trailing end most of the set and with the score tied at 24-24, CSS committed back-to-back errors to give the Blazers a two-set lead 26-24.
St. Scholastica didn't lie down in the third set, despite trailing 11-4 at one point. The Saints scored 12 of the next 16 points to take the lead and then recorded five of the final seven points of the set to extend the match 26-24.
That momentum carried into the fourth set, jumping to a 10-3 lead and cruising to a 25-12 win to force a fifth-and-deciding set.
Both teams exchanged the first six points of the fifth set. The Blazers then went on a 6-2 run to take an 8-5 lead. Two straight errors tied the set at 11-11, but the Blazers scored four of the final five points to take the match 15-11.
Kortney Morrin (Grantsburg, Wis./Grantsburg HS (Northern State)) led the Saints with 22 kills, while
Noelle Elvehjem (Mora, Minn./Mora HS) added 11 kills and
Amanda Belden (Esko, Minn./Esko HS) had nine kills.
Emily Jansen (Long Prairie, Minn./Long Prairie-Grey Eagle HS) had a career-high 29 assists and
Emily Kessler (Blackberry, Minn./Greenway HS (Itasca CC)) had 23 assists.
Danielle Benusa (Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee HS) had a team-high 25 digs and
Alex Barsody (Onamia, Minn./Onamia HS) had 21 digs.
Saint Benedict's Megan Pekarek had a triple-double with 11 kills, 13 digs and 50 assists.
Up NextThe Saints (13-11) return to conference play on Saturday when they host rival University of Northwestern at 3 p.m. in the Reif Gymnasium. The action can be seen live on Saints Sports Net.
