CSB volleyball qualifies for national tournament

Making the NCAA Division III tournament never gets old.

Just ask the College of Saint Benedict volleyball team.

The Bennies advanced to the national tournament for the second consecutive season and 20^th time overall on Monday. CSB (24-7 overall) received one of the 19 Pool C (at-large) bids and will face Pacific Lutheran University (21-3) of Tacoma, Washington, in the opening round of the tournament at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9, in St. Peter, Minnesota.

CSB advanced despite losing a tough five-set match to Gustavus Adolphus on Saturday, Nov. 3, in the MIAC Championship match. PLU earned one of the 43 automatic berths to the tourney by virtue of winning the Northwest Conference title.

Should the Bennies defeat the Lutes, they face a possible rematch with Gustavus in the regional semifinals at 4 p.m. Saturday. The Gusties (27-2 overall) face Minnesota-Morris (21-11), the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference champion, in the opening round of the tournament at 8 p.m. Friday.

The other side of the regional bracket matches Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges (26-3), the defending Division III national champions and champions of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, facing Augsburg University (22-8) at 12:30 p.m. The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (29-3), champions of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, face the University of St. Thomas (25-8) at 3 p.m.

The championship match is set for 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 11. All matches are at Gustavus’ Gus Young Court inside the Lund Center.

2018 Women's Volleyball Team