DULUTH, Minn. – The College of St. Scholastica volleyball team fought valiantly but fell just short in a thrilling five-set match against the College of Saint Benedict on Friday night in a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference matchup. The Saints battled through momentum swings and extended sets before the Bennies secured a 3–2 victory.
St. Scholastica opened strong, edging Saint Benedict 27–25 in the first set behind consistent offensive execution. After Saint Benedict responded with a 25–19 win in set two, the Saints reclaimed the lead with a tight 25–23 win in the third. But Saint Benedict found another gear in the fourth, dominating 25–14 to force a deciding fifth.
The final set was a fitting end to a back-and-forth battle, with both teams trading points late into extra play. The Bennies ultimately prevailed 16–14, securing the match and a key win in MIAC play.
For St. Scholastica, senior middle blocker Lindsey Baribeau (Biwabik, MN/Mesabi East HS) led the offense with 15 kills and 16.5 points, while senior setter Natalie Yackley (New Ulm, MN/New Ulm HS) paced the Saints' attack with 38 assists.
With the loss, St. Scholastica moves to 11-8 overall and 3-2 in league action. The Saints are back in action on Saturday, Oct. 11 for a road contest against University of Minnesota Morris at 3:00 p.m.
