CSB volleyball sets up season heading into MIAC play

On Sept. 1, the CSB Volleyball team began their season at the Puget Sound Premiere Tournament in Tacoma, Wash. The Bennies recorded a 3-1 record to kick off the year.

On Sept. 6, the team took on UW-Eau Claire where they dropped a closely contested, competitive four set match.

On Sept. 8, with a record of 3-2, the team traveled to the UW-River Falls tournament where they dominated with a clean sweep of all three games. Currently 6-2, the Bennies are looking ahead to the UW-Whitewater Invitational Tournament this weekend.

After an impressive 6-2 start to the season, the CSB Volleyball team is excited for what the rest of the season holds. With MIAC play beginning on Sept. 20, the Bennies are hard at work in preparation for Augsburg.

“The season has been great so far. We have had a lot of competition early on in our season, which has been a lot of fun. We have learned a lot early on from playing these teams along with growing as a whole, which I know will put us at an advantage come MIAC play,” senior Emma Guest said.

Guest said the team has had four games go to five sets, which gets to be a very long, tiring game. However, the team’s determination and toughness have helped them to not give up and emerge on top.

“It becomes easier and easier to let other teams take the lead and win when you get tired, and have a few bad points, but we have been so successful by staying tough and not giving up, but we always do it together,” Guest said.

Senior Paige Andries said the tournaments have enabled the team to establish a strong foundation that they can continue to build off of the rest of the season. With tremendous improvement from preseason to now, the team is excited for the future.

Additionally, the tournaments give the Bennies an opportunity to play competitive, sometimes nationally ranked, teams.

“Being able to play teams from all across the country, rather than only in our region, is a good sample of what the NCAA tournament would be like,” Andries said.

Andries said the team has seen tremendous growth stemming from their game experience.

“These game situations have allowed us to identify and improve upon specific skills that we can strengthen before our first MIAC game,” Andries said.

Senior Mackenzie McDonald said the team’s key to success has been trusting one another and maintaining high energy throughout the whole game. Getting to know the first-years and having fun while working hard in practice has helped the team form a close bond.

“With MIAC play starting soon, we are continuing to make every practice count and are working hard. It’s been a lot of fun so far, and I’m excited for the rest of the season,” McDonald said.

Senior Olivia Thompson said the season has been very competitive, and the team is having a lot of fun getting to know the new first-years. Establishing these connections helps to build a strong bond among the players, which is vital for a successful team.

Thompson also mentioned the importance of the tournaments in helping foster the chemistry and success of the team.

“The tournaments have been helping us find our groove as a team and build trust in each other,” Thompson said.

Additionally, taking the season one game at a time helps the team focus and be present during each match, so they can be at their best for each game, Thompson said.

CSB head volleyball coach Nicole Hess is thrilled with the progress the team is making in only their third week of the regular season. With eight games under their belt, the team is looking ahead to the tournament this weekend where they will face three top-10 teams.

The team has one more weekend of non-conference games before MIAC play begins, but Hess feels prepared for the games ahead.

“We strategically play a tough schedule early to prepare to compete in the challenging Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference,” Hess said.

Even with the season’s fast-paced schedule, the team’s goal remains the same: to play their best at the end of the season.

Hess also commented that the supportive community and environment that CSB+SJU creates makes their home games even more exciting.

“I love playing at home and want to give a shoutout to our fans who continue to show up for us. Thank you for making Claire Lynch Hall a tough place for our opponents to play. We love home court,” Hess said.

One of Hess’ favorite moments from the season thus far has been the four five-set matches the team has played in. They recorded impressive wins for three of these games, and their drive never faltered.

“They compete until the final whistle and are a lot of fun to coach and watch. They are easy to root for. We have a strong group of leaders returning and our first-years are fitting right in and making an impact,” Hess said.