A good day for the Blazers
Volleyball and soccer head to DIII tournaments
November 11, 2013
By Mike Killeen
Friday will be a busy day in the College of Saint Benedict athletic department - but it will be a good kind of busy.
The Blazers' volleyball and soccer teams both will be in action in their respective NCAA Division III tournaments.
The CSB volleyball team advanced to the regional semifinal with a 3-0 win over Cornell College of Iowa Thursday, Nov. 14, at the University of St. Thomas' Schoenecker Arena in St. Paul, Minn.
The Blazers, making their 15th overall NCAA tournament appearance and their third consecutive national berth, defeated Cornell 25-16, 25-16 and 25-17.
Senior outside hitter Lexi Alm led the Blazers with 10 kills. Sophomore middle blocker Mary Franz added nine kills and senior outside hitter Chelsea Rachel eight for CSB, which is ranked No. 6 nationally in the most recent AVCA poll.
The Blazers, 27-3 overall, face Wisconsin-Stevens Point (32-4) in the regional semifinals at 4:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15, at Shoenecker Arena. Stevens Point rallied from a 2-0 deficit to beat Wartburg College 21-25, 21-25, 25-20, 25-21, 15-12. The Pointers, who are ranked No. 19 in the AVCA poll, lost to CSB in three sets Aug. 30 in St. Joseph.
The winner of the match advances to the championship match on Saturday, Nov. 16 at St. Thomas.
The CSB soccer team plays Loras College of Dubuque, Iowa, at 1:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15, at Joe Bean Stadium in Wheaton, Ill.
The Blazers enter the first-round match with a 16-2-1 overall record. Loras, 17-3-1 overall, was the champion of the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
The winner of Friday's game will face the winner of the other first-round game between host Wheaton College (17-1-2 overall) and Webster University (19-2) at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16. The winner of the Nov. 16 game advances to the NCAA sectional at site to be determined.
The Blazers will be making their seventh NCAA soccer tournament appearance, and first since 2011.