ST. JOESPH, Minn. – The Augsburg University volleyball team opened Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play with a road match against the College of Saint Benedict on Wednesday evening, falling in four sets the Bennies.

THE BASICS 
FINAL SCORE: Saint Benedict def. Augsburg 3-1 (20-25, 14-25, 25-19, 16-25)
LOCATION: Claire Lynch Hall, St. Joseph, Minn.
RECORDS: Augsburg 7-5 overall (0-1 MIAC), Saint Benedict 8-4 overall (1-0 MIAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Bennies came out stronger in the first two sets, claiming 25-20 and 25-14 wins to take a 2-0 lead in the match. The Auggies stormed back in set three, taking an early lead and holding the advantage for its duration en route to a 25-19 set win. Despite the Auggie win in set three, Saint Benedict regained control in set four an early 9-4 lead to cruise to a 25-16 win to take the match 3-1.
• Saint Benedict outhit Augsburg .245 to .155 as a team, and held a 56-43 advantage in kills. Each team finished the match with 66 digs.
• Bri Van Well (SR, Woodbury, Minn./Woodbury HS) and Emily Kaup (Jr, Omaha, Neb./Duchesne Academy HS) tied for the team lead with 13 kills each while hitting .122 and .136, respectively. Kaup logged her fourth double-double of the season with 12 digs in the match. Madison Gully (JR, Cedar, Minn./St. Francis HS) was the most efficient of the hitters for Augsburg, logging 11 kills while leading the team in hitting percentage at .308.
• Torrie Rehder (JR, Goodhue, Minn./Goodhue HS) held down the back row with a team-high 18 digs while Angel Vo (JR, Blaine, Minn./Mounds View HS) added 12 digs and a team-high 24 set assists.

FOR THE FOES
• Paige Andries, Mackenzie Knofczynski, and Kali Jones tied for the team-lead with 12 kills each for the Bennies.

UP NEXT
• Augsburg will be back in action this Saturday (9/23) hosting both the College of St. Scholastica and Luther College as part of a triangular at Si Melby Hall.