Notables
-CSS had a season-high 3.59 hitting percentage vs. MLC
-Kienzle went over 100 career blocks today
-Elvehjem has at least 10 kills in each of the last four matches
-This was Hamline's first-ever trip to Duluth
DULUTH, Minn. (
csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica volleyball team recorded a pair of sweeps on Saturday at the Reif Gymnasium, taking care of Martin Luther College in Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) action and then edging Hamline University in non-conference play.
CSS 3, Martin Luther 0
The Saints never trailed in the first two sets en route to a three-set victory over the Knights, handing Martin Luther its first conference loss.
Amanda Belden (Esko, Minn./Esko HS) and
Noelle Elvehjem (Mora, Minn./Mora HS) each had four kills in the opening set as the Saints slowly distanced themselves from the Knights after splitting the first four points to take the first set 25-15.
St. Scholastica jumped out to a 7-1 lead in the second set with N Elvehjem registering four kills in that set to cruise to a 25-12 set win.
Martin Luther took its first lead of the match early in the third set, but the Saints used a 9-2 run to take a 14-7 lead. The Knights battled back and got within a point, but a
Nikki Kienzle (Hermantown, Minn./Hermantown HS) kill, followed by an
Emily Bounds (Hill City, Minn./Hill City HS) and Kienzle block made it a three-point margin. Once the Knights got within one again, it was another Kienzle kill to give the Saints some breathing room. CSS would close the set and the match by a 25-19 tally.
The Saints finished with a season-high .359 hitting percentage for the match. Belden and Elvehjem had 10 kills apiece to lead the squad. Kienzle added eight kills and Bounds with six kills. Belden, Kienzle and Bounds did not commit a hitting error in the match.
Emily Kessler (Grand Rapids, Minn./Greenway HS (Itasca CC)) had 21 assists, while
Espi Austvold (Spicer, Minn./New London-Spicer HS) added 14 assists.
Alex Barsody (Onamia, Minn./Onamia HS) led the way with 18 digs. Kienzle also had a team-high five block-assists.
CSS 3, Hamline 0
After Hamline defeated Martin Luther in four sets in the second match of the triangular, the Saints and Pipers battled to see who would be the winner of the day. In a tight match that featured 19 ties, the Saints prevailed in three closely contested sets.
The Pipers jumped out to an early 6-1 lead in the first set, but the Saints quickly tied it at 7-7. From there on it was back-and-forth with 13 ties and three lead changes. After trailing 20-18, Hamline scored four straight points to take a 22-20 lead. After two points for the Saints tied at 22-22, the Saints got back-to-back blocks, one from Kienzle and another from Kienzle and Elvehjem to make it 24-22. Elvehjem then put the set away with a kill to make it 25-22.
St. Scholastica scored four straight points early in the second set and would not relinquish the lead, but the margin was never greater than four points. Hamline tied it four times midway through the set, but the Saints had an answer every time. That continued the rest of the set as a kill by
Christaia Houser (Esko, Minn./Homeschool) punctuated the second set with another 25-22 CSS victory.
The Saints were in control early on the third set and led 19-11 at one point. However, the Pipers clawed their way back in and ultimately got within one point at 24-23. However, Kienzle put the match away with a kill to give the Saints the 25-23 victory.
Elvehjem led the way with 13 kills. Houser added nine kills with Kienzle and Bounds with seven apiece. Kessler had 26 assists and Austvold with 18 assists. Barsody had a team-high 19 digs with
Emily Blake (Andover, Minn./Andover HS) adding 11 digs.
Up Next
The Saints (9-11) will be on the road on Wednesday at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Action is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
