Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 | Box Score 3 | Box Score 4 The Hamline volleyball team certainly knows how to make a good first impression. The Pipers opened the season with four 3-0 sweeps at the Viking Classic played in Rock Island, Ill. August 29-30. The Pipers started off with wins over UW-River Falls and Aurora Friday afternoon and came back the next morning to subdue Benedictine and Knox. 

Hamline was the only MIAC team to have a perfect weekend. 

Head coach Becky Egan was able to do what she hoped for -- use a lot of players and try different combinations. As a result, the attack numbers were evenly split. Eight different players ended the weeked in double digits for kills. Caitlyn Gottwald (pictured), one of two Pipers to be named to the All-Tournament team, led the way with 26 kills. Jena Meyer was close behind with 21 and Stephanie Kaup added 19. The Pipers hit a solid .223 for ther four matches. Vassi Prattas (79 assists) and Amelia Jensen (60) shared the setter's role. Lynsey Reimer picked up where she left off last year, earning a spot on the All-Tournament team with 79 digs, an impressive average of 5.92 per set. Michelle Mattke added 37 (4.11 per set). 

The weekend started with 25-20, 25-19, 25-18 wins over the Falcons, a team that beat HU last year. The Pipers followed that up with a stiff 27-25, 25-20, 25-21 triumph over Aurora.

On Saturday, HU came out swinging against Benedictine, winning the first game, 25-11. The next two were considerably tougher but the Pipers prevailed, 26-24 and 25-21. Hamline widened its bench against Knox in a 25-18, 25-20, 25-12 sweep. The Pipers' .264 attack percentage was their highest of the four matches played. 

HU returns to action September 6 with three matches at Hutton Arena. The Pipers get a rematch with UW-River Falls at 10:00 a.m. They will face UW-Superior at 4:00 p.m. and Crown at 6:00 p.m.