CSB volleyball team reaches NCAA Elite Eight
November 18, 2019
For the third time in program history, the College of Saint Benedict volleyball team has advanced to the NCAA Division III Elite Eight.
The Bennies, 26-5 overall, face Johns Hopkins University (32-0 overall) in the national quarterfinals at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21 at the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
It’s the first time CSB has reached the Elite Eight since 2008. The 1990 team reached the national semifinals.
CSB advanced to the 2019 Elite Eight with a dramatic 3-2 win over the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Saturday, Nov. 16, at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. The Bennies built a 2-0 lead with 26-24 and 25-14 wins in the first two sets but lost the next two sets 25-18 and 25-23 to set up a decisive fifth set, which CSB won 15-10.
Johns Hopkins path to the Elite Eight was slightly less adventurous. The Blue Jays swept all three of their opponents in the regional by 3-0 scores; in fact, Johns Hopkins has won 35 consecutive sets in 11-plus matches (its last set loss was Oct. 17 against Stevenson).
The NCAA Division III Volleyball Committee seeded the eight teams in the national quarterfinals, with Johns Hopkins receiving the No. 2 seed and CSB the No. 7 seed. Emory received the No. 1 seed.
The national semifinals are at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22 (the CSB-Johns Hopkins winner would play at 7:30 p.m.), with the final scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23.