Blazers Husk Cobbers, Swipe Their Second Seed

10/27/2007

The College of Saint Benedict volleyball team (8-3 MIAC, 20-9 overall) defeated the Concordia-Moorhead Cobbers in three games with scores of 30-28, 30-27, and 30-24. The Cobbers are currently ranked No. 19 in the nation according to the most recent AVCA poll. This afternoon's win makes the Blazers 3-0 against top 25 teams when competing in Claire Lynch Hall. It is also the second such victory in just 10 days; they beat No. 21 Carleton 3-2 on Oct. 17. With the win, CSB effectively altered the entire MIAC volleyball playoff picture. The Blazers and Cobbers both finished with an 8-3 conference record and a second place tie. However, because of today's outcome, CSB won the tie-breaker of head-to-head competition and earned the No. 2 seed in the upcoming MIAC playoffs.

Despite the quick finish, the Cobbers posed a real threat to the Blazers' chances at the second spot in the final MIAC standings. Early on, it was all CSB as the Blazers grabbed a 13-point advantage with a score of 18-5. The Cobbers mounted an incredible comeback and nearly caught the Blazers. CSB held its position and stopped the Concordia run at 29-28 and finished the first game with a two-point win. After one game, the momenutm was teetering on both sides of the court and remained that way through the duration of the second game. The Blazers squeaked by again, this time with a 30-27 finish. Right when CSB thought it had the Cobbers right where it wanted them, Concordia gained a 16-10 lead in the third game. Trailing six points, the Blazers quickly erased one of their few deficits of the day. As the Cobbers ran out of steam, CSB picked up the slack and capped the three-game sweep with a 30-24 victory.

A trio of hitters led the Blazer attack with 12 kills apiece. The three players that Concordia failed to find answers for were sophomore outside hitter Emma Jaynes (Hibbing, Minn./Hibbing High School), first-year middle blocker Laurel Heggernes (Mora, Minn./Mora High School) and first-year outside hitter Kayli Schumacher (East Grand Forks, Minn./Sacred Heart High School). Jaynes also finished with a .355 hitting percentage and a season-high 28 digs to help CSB to a first-round playoff bye. Sophomore setter Beth Hanson (Fairbault, Minn./Bethlehem Academy) was able to find the trio all afternoon as she accumulated 43 set-assists, an average of 14.33 assists per game.

The Blazers are next in action at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 1 when they host the MIAC playoff semifinal match in Claire Lynch Hall. Their opponent will be determined from the quarterfinal matches on Tuesday, Oct. 30.

Stats | MIAC Standings | 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