Saint Benedict wins 2009 MIAC Volleyball Playoffs
11/7/2009 9:57:06 PM
St. Joseph, Minn. -- The College of Saint Benedict (26-5 overall, 10-1 MIAC) defeated St. Olaf College (27-4, 9-2 MIAC) 3-0 in the MIAC Playoff Championship in Claire Lynch Hall on Saturday, earning the Blazers both the MIAC Regular Season and Playoff Championships in 2009.
The Blazers began the first set with an 8-3 lead over the Oles, but St. Olaf kept the things interesting by tying the score at eight. CSB kept pushing ahead, picking up a 16-13 lead and staying ahead to win 25-20.
Both teams exchanged point for point throughout the second set, with nine tied scores before either team reached 15. The Blazers prevailed picking up the win despite the Oles right at their heels with a score of 25-22.
Everything fell together for CSB in the final set, beginning with a 10-3 lead over St. Olaf and stringing together 8-2 and 7-5 runs as they won 25-11.
The Blazers were led by junior right side hitter Kayli Schumacher (East Grand Forks, MN, Sacred Heart), who totalled 10 kills with a .389 hitting percentage. Junior middle hitter Calleigh Brown (Buffalo, MN, Buffalo) added eight kills and four blocks, while senior outside hitter Emma Jaynes (Hibbing, MN, Hibbing) picked up six kills and 11 digs for CSB. Senior setter Beth Hanson (Faribault, MN, Bethlehem Academy) contributed 28 assists toward the win.
Kim Smisek's nine kills led St. Olaf. It marked the first time in her last 34 matches (Oct. 22, 2008 vs. Macalester) that Smisek, who leads the country in kills, didn't reach double-digits.
2009 MIAC Volleyball Playoff Website
