Saints go 1-2 in Eau Claire

NSO – NEWS RELEASE

CSS 3, Saint Mary’s 0
The Saints began the day with a three-set sweep of Saint Mary’s University. It was just the second win all-time against the Cardinals, with the first taking place in 2006.

CSS got off to a fast start, recording the first seven points of the match. Saint Mary’s battled back in the opening set, but an 8-0 run by the Saints gave St. Scholastica the first set 25-17.

The second set featured 12 ties and five lead changes. After trailing 18-17, the Saints recorded eight of the next 11 points to take the set 25-21. The third set had 13 ties and seven lead changes with the Saints finishing strong again to close the match 25-22.

Kortney Morrin (Grantsburg, Wis./Grantsburg HS (Northern State)) led the way with 14 kills. Noelle Elvehjem (Mora, Minn./Mora HS) added nine kills and Amanda Belden (Esko, Minn./Esko HS) had eight kills. Danielle Benusa (Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee HS) had 10 digs and Erika Birkeland (Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake HS) and Emily Jansen (Long Prairie, Minn./Long Prairie-Grey Eagle HS) each had 19 assists.

CSS 1, UW-Oshkosh 3
The Saints then faced a University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh squad that had won its first three matches of the UWEC Fall Classic and carried in a record of 24-3.

CSS battled the Titans as the first set needed overtime. The Titans had three set points, while the Saints had a pair in the back-and-forth affair, but Oshkosh would capitalize on its fourth set point to take it 30-28.

The Saints responded well in the second set, jumping out to a 19-12 lead and then hanging on for the 25-19 set win to even the match.

It was all Titans in the third set as they scored the first nine points and eventually won the set 25-11.

In the fourth set, there would be 13 ties and eight lead changes. Oshkosh had a three-point lead at one point, but that was the largest margin for the set. The Saints would have set point at 24-23, but a service error gave it back to Oshkosh. Another unforced error by the Saints gave the Titans match point and they capitalized with an ace to take the match 26-24.

Morrin and Christaia Houser (Esko, Minn./Homeschool) each paced the Saints with 10 kills. Elvehjem and Kariana DeYoung (Deer River, Minn./Deer River HS) had eight kills apiece. Benusa recorded 34 digs and Birkeland had 26 assists.

CSS 0, UW-Eau Claire 3
The Saints, playing their third consecutive match, fell to the host UW-Eau Claire in three sets 25-18, 25-22, 25-17.

Elvehjem led the Saints with 11 kills. Morrin had 10 kills and DeYoung added seven kills.

The Saints (12-12) are back at the Reif Gymnasium next weekend and back in conference play when they host Martin Luther College on Friday and Bethany Lutheran College on Saturday. Friday’s contest will begin at 7 p.m. The action can be seen live on Saints Sports Net.