Box Score With a week to go in the MIAC volleyball season, the Hamline volleyball team is back in the thick of a battle for playoff positions. The Pipers moved within a half-game of Bethel -- who holds the sixth and last playoff slot with a 3-1 victory at St. Olaf Saturday afternoon. Jena Meyer led a balanced offensive attack with 14 kills and a .222 hitting percentage. Julia Zolnosky added 13 and Cass Bittle contributed nine. Morgen Coleman was in a real giving mood with 35 assists. Amelia Jensen led the back row effort with 27 digs -- her second best outing of the season. Zolnosky kicked in 17. Megan Anderson had 14 and Coleman delivered 11. Zolnosky also had three service aces and Anderson delivered a pair. 

The Pipers started fast, knocking the Oles into a 6-0 hole int hefirst set. HU stayed ahead the rest of the way for a 25-22 win. The Oles turned the tables in the second set, leading most of the way and holding a late HU surge for a 25-23 win. The home team got off to a 4-0 lead in the third set before HU rallied. The Pipers broke a 16-all with a 9-3 run that clinched the 25-19 final. For a long time, it appeared the Oles might force a deciding set. HU trailed 19-17 before winning four of the next five points for a a 21-20 edge. It was 22-all when HU spurted again for the final three points to clinch the match.

The decision pushed Hamline over the .500 mark at 10-9 overall. HU is one of three teams tied at 4-5 in MIAC play. Bethel is a half-game ahead at 5-5 and St. Benedict has a one-game edge at 5-4.  

The Pipers will look for home cooking to help them down the stretch. Hamline hosts Wis-Superior on Monday, October 24 in a non-conference affair at Hutton (7:00 p.m.). Gustavus Adolphus is at Hutton on Wednesday, October 26 for a MIAC matchup and the season finale is Saturday, October 29 against St. Catherine, also at Hutton.