ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – No. 3 University of Northwestern Volleyball traveled to St. Joseph on Saturday afternoon for a non-conference battle against the College of Saint Benedict. The defensive front of the Eagles proved vital in the contest as UNW recorded 11 blocks to the Bennies' two in a 3-1 win for Northwestern.
 
Saint Benedict started strong out the gate, gaining a six-point lead up 14-8. The Eagles rallied with a four-point run to get within two, but the Bennies responded with a five-point run of their own to go up 19-12. Undaunted, the Eagles battled back to tie the match at 20-20 on the strength of a seven-point run. Saint Benedict, however, would go on to win five of the next seven points to take the opening set 25-22.
 
Going up 1-0, the Bennies become just the second team this season to take a lead on the Eagles. Previously, No. 5 Calvin had been the only team to take a lead over UNW in a match, going up 1-0 prior to the Eagles rallying for a 3-1 victory.
 
In the second set, the Eagles found their rhythm and cruised to a 25-16 victory. UNW's lead reached as high as 11-points in the set.
 
Having tied the match at 1-1, the Eagles powered their way to a 2-1 lead by winning the third set. UNW used six separate three-point runs to help take the 25-17 victory.
 
After two efficient set wins to take the match lead, the Eagles faced strong competition from the Bennies in the fourth set. Northwestern took an 11-8 lead early, but Saint Benedict rallied to go up 13-12. The Eagles and Bennies exchanged leads through the middle of the set as CSB reached a 23-21 lead. UNW then won three in a row to reach match point up 24-23. On the verge of defeat, the Bennies evened the match at 24-24. UNW and Saint Ben's exchanged points back and forth until a pair of Bennie attack errors sealed a 28-26 fourth-set win for Northwestern, taking the match 3-1.
 
Ari Schmidt (Albany, Minn./Holdingford) led the Eagles with 14 kills in the match on .370 hitting. Kiera Brown (Columbia Falls, Mont./Columbia Falls) led the UNW defensive front with eight block assists while adding five kills on .714 hitting. Marylyn Schroyer's (Ft. Collins, Colo./Ft. Collins) 19 digs led the Eagles. Grace Strickfaden (Norwood-Young America, Minn./NYA) and Hannah Gadient (Goodhue, Minn./Goodhue) combined for 48 assists (12.0 per set) in the match, recording 25 and 23 respectively.
 
Up next for No. 3 Northwestern is a trip east to take on the defending national champion University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Blugolds on Wednesday, Sepetember 28, at 7:00 P.M.