SAINT JOSEPH, MINN.—The 2021 MIAC opener pitted the Hamline University women's volleyball team at Saint Benedict University on Wednesday night. Hamline hadn't defeated the Bennies since October 12, 2016, when they registered a 3-2 decision. The Pipers snapped their four-match skid against St. Ben's with a 3-1 victory.

Hamline improves to 8-4, 1-0 MIAC while Saint Benedict falls to 1-8, 0-1 MIAC.

Hamline 3, Saint Benedict 1 (28-26, 25-21, 22-25, 25-21)

The opening set saw five lead changes. That final lead change occurred off a St. Ben's attack error that gave Hamline a 26-25 advantage. The Bennie's tied things up at 26-26 before a Sydney Larson kill, and a Saint Benedict attack error propelled Hamline to a 28-26 victory in set one.

The Pipers never trailed in set two en route to a 25-21 victory. Saint Benedict narrowed their match deficit to 2-1 with a 25-22 set-three victory before the fourth set saw Hamline put together two big runs. Megan Rubbelke's three service aces, and Rachel Rettmann's three kills within an 8-0 Hamline run pushed their lead to 9-3 over St. Ben's in set four. Both teams were tied at 19-19 before Hamline closed the set and match with a 6-2 run highlighted by a pair of kills each from Rettmann and Julianna Boyum, which secured a 25-21 set-four win and 3-1 match victory.

Rettmann paced Hamline with 17 kills and six blocks, while Megan Rubbelke posted 44 assists, four service aces and 15 digs. Jenna Rubbelke was a defensive force with a season-high 28 digs for the Pipers. Boyum and Larson were effective with 12 kills a piece. Larson added 20 digs to her stat line for Hamline, while Gabby Robinson contributed 17.

The Pipers will face Crown in a road match on Friday, September 24 at 7:00 p.m.