NORTHFIELD, Minn. – In a match that featured 37 ties and 18 lead changes in just three sets, the St. Olaf College volleyball team was swept by scores of 26-24, 27-25, 26-24 in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) play on Friday evening at Skoglund Center.

Saint Ben's (6-11, 4-4 MIAC) won each of the three sets in extra points and St. Olaf (10-12, 5-3 MIAC) had at least one set point in the first and third sets. The Bennies saved two set points in the opening set, won three of the final four points of the second set, and saved a set point on their way to winning the final three points of the match.

Sophomore Catherine Moore had a match-high 16 kills for the Oles as she reached double figures in kills for the sixth match in a row on a night that saw her hit .297. Moore was the only St. Olaf student-athlete to reach double digits as first year Madison Gully, senior Katelyn Lannom, and junior Nicole Banitt had eight kills apiece.

Junior Selena Rodriguez had her third assist-dig double-double of the season with a team-high 16 digs to go with 11 assists. Senior Brynne Gray also recorded a double-double of 16 assists and 14 digs, while junior Christina Cheng added 15 digs of her own.

The first set featured 18 ties and eight lead changes before it went the way of Saint Ben's after the visitors won the final four points of the set. Late in the set, St. Olaf used consecutive kills by Gully, Cheng, and Moore to take a 24-22 lead, but Gabby Heying had two of her nine kills in the set during the closing 4-0 run for the Bennies.

After trailing 10-6 early in the second, the Oles fought back to take a 20-19 lead and prompt a CSB timeout. Out of the break, Saint Ben's wont on a quick 3-0 run to take the lead back and force a St. Olaf timeout. The Oles saved three set points to even the set at 25-25 before kills be Audrey Spolidoro and Heying gave the visitors a two-sets-to-none lead.

Looking to extend the match, St. Olaf jumped out to lead of 7-1 and 10-4 early in the third. With the Oles ahead 19-15, the Bennies won four-straight points to tie the set at 19-19. The score was tied at 21-21, 22-22, 23-23, and 24-24 before Saint Ben's completed the sweep with three-straight points after St. Olaf had a set point at 24-23.

Heying led Saint Ben's with 15 kills in the match, while Spolidoro had 37 assists, 11 digs, and five kills. Mary Wenisch recorded a match-high 26 digs for the Bennies, who enjoyed a 10-3 advantage in aces in the match.

St. Olaf returns to the court on Saturday, Oct. 23 for a 1 p.m. home match against Concordia-Moorhead on Youth Day at Skoglund Center. All youth 18 and under receive free admission to the match.