DULUTH, Minn. (
csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica volleyball team remains at home on Saturday when welcomes conference foes University of Northwestern (Minn.) and Bethany Lutheran College.
Where:
Reif Gymnasium – Duluth, Minn.
When:
Saturday
Northwestern – 2 p.m.
Bethany Lutheran – 6 p.m.
Live Video: https://csssaints.com/showcase
Live Stats: https://csssaints.com/sidearmstats/wvball/summary
Social Media:
Twitter:
www.twitter.com/SaintsVball
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St. Scholastica Saints
Stats
Record: 4-8, 2-2 UMAC
Upper Midwest Athletic Conference: Standings | Stats
What You Need To Know About The Saints:
-The Saints swept the LumberJills of Northland College to open their home schedule on Tuesday.
-The sweep was led by junior setter
Espi Austvold (Spicer, Minn./New London-Spicer HS), she led the team with 22 assists and sophomore
Kelsi Rippberger (Brooklyn Park, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong HS) also had a nice contribution with 12 assists of her own.
-The Saints almost knocked off Bridge Rival University of Wisconsin-Superior in the next match Tuesday night. They led two sets to one and had a late lead in set number four, but ultimately fell in five sets.
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Sofia Rajala (Deer River, Minn./Greenway HS) recorded a career-high 14 kills against UWS. Rajala ranks fourth in the UMAC with a .278 hitting percentage.
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Brooke Schermann (Brooklyn Park, Minn./Totino-Grace HS) registered 28 kills in the two matches. Schermann ranks third in the conference, averaging 3.3 kills per set.
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Madissen Burns (Watertown, Minn./Watertown-Mayer HS) had four Aces in the match against Northland.
-The Saints matched a conference-high this season with 70 kills against the Yellowjackets.
What You Need To Know About Northwestern:
Record: 9-4, 4-0 UMAC
-The Eagles came into the season voted number one in the UMAC preseason polls with 7-of-9 first place votes, and they haven't disappointed thus far. They've swept all four of their UMAC opponents including University of Minnesota Morris who were projected to finish second in the same poll.
-Though they have fallen some in the national rankings the Eagles have their eyes set on another NCAA tournament run that saw them get to the third round, ultimately falling to Gustavus Adolphus College in four sets last season.
-The Eagles are currently ranked 25
th in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) poll.
-Two of the four losses for the Eagles have come against ranked opponents. They lost their NCAA tournament loss rematch to No. 12 Gustavus in five sets, and were swept by No. 17 University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
-Sydney Schwitters leads Division III with 11.81 assists per set.
Series Records: Northwestern leads 56-43-1 (
Last Meeting: 3-0 UNW – 10/6/17)
Series History: The Saints have lost the last 15 matches to the Eagles. In the last four meetings, the Eagles have swept all four matches and were ranked in the Top 25 of the AVCA in all four matches.
What You Need To Know About Bethany Lutheran:
Record: 4-9, 2-2 UMAC
-The Vikings opened the season 2-2 and have swept both victories, the Vikings were voted to finish fifth in the UMAC preseason coaches' poll, and it would be their highest finish since 2016 and would get them back in the postseason tournament.
-This will be their hardest doubleheader of conference play so far this season, playing two top four teams from a season ago.
-Megan Rutt leads the Vikings offense, she has 142 kills and 443 total attacks on the season.
-Kalli Mathiasen leads the Vikings in assists with 212.
-The Vikings rank second in the UMAC with 85 aces.
Series Records: CSS leads 21-8 (
Last Meeting: 3-1 CSS – 10/21/17)
Series History: At one point in the early 2000's Bethany lead the all-time series 8-3, but since Halloween 2008 the Saints have gone on an 18 match winning streak against the Vikings that includes 14 sweeps.
Looking Ahead: The Saints will head to Morris, Minnesota on Wednesday for another triangular against the University of Minnesota Morris and North Central University (Minn.).
