Persistent Gusties First to Win in Claire Lynch

10/20/2007

The College of Saint Benedict volleyball team (7-2 MIAC, 19-8 overall) was defeated by Gustavus Adolphus College 3-2. The game scores of the match were 29-31, 26-30, 30-24, 30-28, and 18-16. The Gusties became the first team in 2007 to knock off CSB in Claire Lynch Hall. The Blazers began the season with eight straight home wins, a streak that Gustavus both ignored and ended today.

From the start of the match, every fan in the gym could tell that both teams would have a long afternoon ahead of them. CSB beat the Gusties 31-29 in the first game, but Gustavus had already sent the message that they would not give up easily. The Blazers held off the Gusties for a close four point win in the second game. While Gustavus was just a few points shy of wins in both of the first two games, they battled back to defeat CSB in the following three. However, the Blazers did not go down without an exciting fight – one that many fans in attendance will remember for quite some time. The struggle to gain an advantage was apparent in the 41 tied scores and 18 lead changes throughout the match. In the end, the Gusties defeated the Blazers by two points in the two last games (30-28 and 18-16) to secure the match victory.

The Blazer attack was a diverse one with four Blazers recording between 14 and 16 kills in the match. Leading the pack was first-year middle blocker Calleigh Brown (Buffalo, Minn./Buffalo High School) with 16 kills. Right behind Brown were CSB’s outside hitters, sophomore Emma Jaynes (Hibbing, Minn./Hibbing High School) and first-year Kayli Schumacher (East Grand Forks, Minn./Sacred Heart High School) who both finished with 15 kills in the match. Last but, not least, was first-year middle blocker Laurel Heggernes (Mora, Minn./Mora High School) with 14. Sophomore setter Beth Hanson (Fairbault, Minn./Bethlehem Academy) had many choices in today’s match as she compiled 60 set-assists. Defensively, five Blazers recorded four or more blocks. The first-year middle blockers, Brown and Heggernes, each accumulated seven.

The Blazers are next in action at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 23 when they travel to St. Paul, Minn. to take on No. 6 St. Thomas.

Stats | Volleyball | CSB Sports

Athletic Department
College of Saint Benedict
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