SAINT PAUL, MINN.—The Hamline University women's volleyball team squared-off against Saint Benedict in a re-match from last season's MIAC Quarterfinal at Hutton Arena on Wednesday night. Deja vu from the 2021 MIAC Tournament wasn't the case as the Bennies got their revenge with a 3-0 (26-24, 25-20, 25-19) victory over the Pipers.
Hamline falls to 1-11, 0-1 MIAC, while Saint Benedict improves to 9-5, 1-0 MIAC.
Saint Benedict 3, Hamline 0Â (26-24, 25-20, 25-19)
The Pipers led seven times in the opening game, as the last occasion occurred off a Bennies service error that put things at set point with a 24-23 advantage. Saint Benedict battled back with three-straight points behind kills from Mackenzie Knofczynski and Olivia Thompson that gave them a 26-24 victory. Hamline mustered a .237 hitting percentage on 14 kills in the opening set.
The Pipers couldn't maintain their stellar hitting from the opening frame as they accumulated a .134 mark in the match. They dropped the second set 25-20, followed by a 25-19 setback in the third.
Jenna Rubbelke paced the Hamline defense with 16 digs. Kennedy Tutak led the way offensively with seven kills on .222 hitting along with a game-high six blocks, followed by Lindsay Eckelman's stellar .385 hitting mark that included six kills on 13 attacks. Julianna Boyum also had six kills for Hamline, while Kaitlyn Kotek tallied 19 assists.
Gabby Heying posted a game-high 16 kills for St. Ben's, while Mackenzie McDonald had 21 digs.
The Pipers will face Carroll (Wis.) on day one of the Luther Tournament in Decorah, Iowa on Friday, September 23Â at 7 p.m.