Box Score Perfection is a goal often sought but rarely attained. The Hamline volleyball team didn't achieve that goal Saturday but they did something very notable in a 3-1 loss to No. 7 ranked St. Thomas at Hutton Arena Saturday. Down two set to none, the Pipers roared back to overwhelm the Tommies, 25-8 to force the fourth set. It was the first set a HU volleyball team had taken from the Tommies since 2006. They hit a torrid .409 in the process. But perhaps even most astounding than that was they did it without committing a single error.

It was a match of extremes. The Tommies, now 20-6 overall, came out swinging, hitting an impressive .367 in a 25-15 decision that featured eight ties and four lead changes. The Pipers started to make life tougher in the second game, forcing several rallies before dropping a 25-21 decision. Hamline was trailing 4-3 in the third set when, with Vassi Prattas served, they reeled off seven points in a row. UST got one back only to see Hamline, with Jamie Rubbelke now serving, erupt for eight in a row to take an astonishing 20-5 lead. Caitlyn Gottwald had four of her game high 12 kills in this set. The Tommies ended up hitting .-091 with 11 errors. 

The fourth set was competitive as well. There were seven ties and sxs lead changes. UST appeared on their way with a 24-16 edge but Gottwald came up two more kills as part of a 5-0 run that ended in a 25-21 loss. In addition to Gottwald, Stephanie Kaup had a big game with 10 kills and a .346 hitting percentage. Prattas had 17 assists while Amelia Jensen added 15. Lynsey Reimer continues to inch up towards the lead in Assists Per Set. She had 26 against the Tommies and is now averaging 6.16 assists per set, a mere .05 out of the league lead. 

Hamline is now 12-8 overall, 4-5 in the MIAC. They trail Gustavus Adolphus by a game for the last MIAC playoff spot. 

HU plays at St. Benedict (18-8, 7-2 MIAC) Wednesday. They wrap up regular season play against St. Catherine at Hutton Arena on October 31. Game time is 7:00 p.m.