MINNEAPOLIS -- Ashley Peper (SO, Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson HS) recorded a match-best 16 kills, with a hitting percentage of .406, in the Augsburg College volleyball team's sweep of the previously undefeated, No. 10-ranked College of St. Benedict (25-23, 25-22, 25-17) in a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference match on Wednesday evening at Si Melby Hall.

The match marked the MIAC-opener for the two teams, who each have had early season success. The Auggies entered the match as the first team outside the top 25 of the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division III national poll receiving votes, while St. Benedict was ranked No. 10 in the same poll. Wednesday's sweep marks Augsburg's third victory over a ranked opponent this season and improves its record to 12-2 overall (1-0 MIAC). 

Both teams boasted powerful national statistics offensively. Coming into Wednesday's match, St. Benedict was ranked first in the nation as a team in kills per-set with a 14.50 average, while the Auggies' average of 13.98 was good enough for fifth in the country. The Auggies- top hitter, Peper, averaged 4.73 kills per-set, best in the MIAC and fifth highest in the nation. Tonight's match also included two of the top setters in the nation with the Blazers' Taya Kockelman and the Auggies' Emily McCourt (SR, Sun Prairie, Wis./Sun Prairie HS). Kockelman's 11.77 assists-per-set was the nation's-best, while McCourt's 11.14 average was sixth. 

Peper had a great all-around night, picking up 15 digs and three blocks to go along with her 16 kills. Colleen Ourada (SR, Omaha, Neb./Mercy HS), ranked third overall in the MIAC with a 3.90 kills per-set average, also had a kill-dig double double with 12 kills and 12 digs, as well as two blocks (one solo). As a team, the Auggies recorded nine blocks in the three-set match, while the Blazers only blocked one Auggie attack. Taylor Trautman (FY, Hutchinson, Minn./Jefferson HS) had five blocks (one solo) and four kills for the Auggies. 

McCourt had a team-high 37 assists, seven digs, five kills, while striking .417, with a service ace and one solo block. Jessica Lillquist (SO, Sebeka, Minn./Sebeka HS) hit a team-best .455 in her six kills, and Jaelyn Arndt (FY, Osage, Iowa/Minneapolis Washburn HS) picked up three kills. Lillquist and Arndt each had two blocks as well. 

For St. Benedict, Kockelman, the nation's leader in assists, picked up a match-best 40 assists, and outside hitter Lexi Rinde was the most efficient striker on the court with a .609 percentage in her 15 kills. 

The Auggies return to action this Friday (9/20) at 7 p.m. with another MIAC home match against Carleton College at Si Melby Hall.