Hanson, Heggernes Boost Blazers and Knock off Knights

The College of Saint Benedict volleyball team (7-1 MIAC, 19-7 overall) defeated the Carleton College Knights in a five-game thriller that may foreshadow what lies ahead in the MIAC playoffs. The Blazers won 3-2 with game scores of 30-25, 25-30, 30-22, 27-30, and 15-8. Carleton entered tonight’s match ranked 20^th in the nation according to the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) poll. The Knights were trailing CSB by just one game in the MIAC standings with a 5-2 record. However, with a huge win tonight the Blazers have, at least temporarily, grabbed sole possession of second place in the conference and left the Knights back in the fifth spot.

Once again, CSB defended its home court as the Blazers remain unbeaten through eight matches played in Claire Lynch Hall this season. Needless to say, both the Knights and Blazers came to play tonight. From the first serve of the evening, the teams battled back and forth for momentum without much luck. CSB won the first. Carleton the second. The Blazers bounced back in the third; and the Knights fought through in the fourth.

It was not until the match was tied at 5-5 in the fifth game did either team truly gain an advantage. With a matter of points remaining in the match, the Blazers looked to sophomore setter Beth Hanson (Fairbault, Minn./Bethlehem Academy) and first-year middle blocker Laurel Heggernes (Mora, Minn./Mora High School) for a lift. This was nothing new; CSB had been turning to the pair all night long. The Blazers rallied behind Hanson’s five assists and Heggernes’s three kills and two blocks to put together a quick 10-3 run to defeat the Knights.

Hanson finished the match a career-high 67 set-assists. Her total also ranks fourth in CSB history for most assists by a Blazer in a single match. Despite her outstanding performance, Hanson was not the only one who stole the show in tonight’s match. Heggernes tallied 25 kills and 10 blocks – both of which are Blazer season-highs. To top it off, sole senior and captain Theresa Naumann (Columbia Heights, Minn./Totino-Grace High School) recorded her career-high of 20 kills only a day after being named CSB’s Athlete of the Week. The Blazers completed an impressive team showing as well. CSB compiled 13 team blocks, had four players record at least 10 kills, five players record at least 10 digs, and held Carleton to a .177 hitting percentage.

The Blazers will look to use this momentum to push towards the MIAC playoffs beginning on Oct. 30. CSB is next in action at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 20 when Gustavus Adolphus College comes to town to try their hand in Claire Lynch Hall.

Stats | Volleyball | CSB Sports

Peter Banick, CSB Athletic Media Relations Student Assistant

Athletic Department
College of Saint Benedict
37 South College Avenue
St. Joseph, MN 56374
320-363-5301
Fax 320-363-6098