Notables
-CSS improves to 34-0 all-time vs. Crown
-MLC has beaten the Saints twice in the last four meetings, despite CSS having a better hitting percentage in those matches
-CSS now 0-4 in true road matches this season
NEW ULM, Minn. (
csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica volleyball team opened Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) play with a split on Saturday.
CSS 3, Crown 0
The Saints had little trouble with Crown College to begin the day, sweeping the Storm (0-11, 0-2 UMAC). The Saints did not trail in the opening set to win 25-9.
Sofia Rajala (Deer River, Minn./Greenway HS) was 3-for-3 with kills on attacks in that first set.
The second set proved to be the closest of the three as CSS trailed 9-6 before recording seven consecutive points. With the set at 20-19, the Saints scored five of the last six points to win 25-20.
Emily Bounds (Hill City, Minn./Hill City HS) had four kills in the second set.
The third set was a runaway for St. Scholastica, registering the first eight points to go on and win 25-8.
Tatum Swanson (Carlton, Minn./Wrenshall HS) had five of her team-high 10 kills in the third set.
Brooke Schermann (Brooklyn Park, Minn./Totino-Grace HS) added nine kills.
Espi Austvold (Spicer, Minn./New London-Spicer HS) had 17 assists and
Taylor Thompson (Buffalo, Minn./Buffalo HS) accumulated 16 digs.
Martin Luther 3, CSS 1
The Saints faced triangular host Martin Luther College in the nightcap. The Knights (2-9, 2-0 UMAC), who ended CSS' season in 2017 in the First Round of the UMAC Tournament, would hand the Saints their first conference loss in four sets.
The first set saw the Knights pull away midway thru to win 25-18. The Saints jumped out to a 7-2 lead in set two and led 20-14. With the score at 23-20 CSS, Martin Luther went on a five-point run thanks to four CSS errors and a service ace to take a two-set lead at 25-23.
St. Scholastica bounced back in the third set and cruised to a 25-14 win. Schermann and Swanson each had five kills in the set. The fourth set saw the Saints in front 23-18. However, once again the Knights battled back to make it 23-22. Following a MLC error, CSS had two set points, but it was the Knights that closed the set with four consecutive points to take the set and the match 26-24.
Schermann led the way with a match-high 14 kills. Swanson followed with 13 kills. Austvold had 22 assists and Thompson 21 digs. The Saints had a better hitting percentage than the Knights .143-.125.
Up Next
The Saints (3-7, 1-1 UMAC) will have their first home matches of the season on Tuesday when they host a conference triangular at the Reif Gymnasium. The Saints will face Northland College at 3 p.m. and the University of Wisconsin-Superior at 7 p.m.
