DULUTH, Minn. – The Saints volleyball team heads to central Minnesota as they will be one of five teams participating in the St. Benedict Holiday Inn-vitational, hosted by the College of St. Benedict. CSS joins CSB, the College of St. Catherine, St. Olaf College and fellow UMAC opponent the University of Minnesota-Morris as the teams competing.

The Records:
St. Scholastica (9-2)
College of St. Benedict (4-6)
College of St. Catherine (2-7)
No. 16 St. Olaf (6-3)
Minnesota-Morris (5-3)

GameDay Media:
Tournament Web site | Live Stats (St. Ben's Match Only) | Live Video (St. Ben's Match only)

Last Action: The Saints went a perfect 4-0 in last weekend's Gustavus Classic as they only dropped two sets overall. The Saints swept both UW-River Falls and Martin Luther and won 3-1 against MIAC opponents Gustavus Adolphus and Carleton.

St. Scholastica Saints Notes: The Saints are off to their best start since the 2009 season at 9-2. CSS enters the weekend on a five-match winning streak. 2009 UMAC Rookie of the Year #Paige Hardy# has been named to two all-tournament teams already this season (SMU Sugar Loaf & Gustavus Classic). Sophomore transfer #Anna Zyvoloski# was named to the Gustavus Classic All-Tournament team last week and leads the Saints with 147 kills. Hardy and sophomore setter #Sarah Kurtovich# were named UMAC Players of the Week this week for their performances at the Gustavus Classic.

St. Benedict Blazers Notes: Last season the Blazers finished with an overall record of 26-6 and advanced to the NCAA Division III Regional Quarterfinals. With a new coach this year in Nicole Hess, the Blazers look to pick up right where they left off last year. To do that the Blazers will look to the experience of Seniors Amber Wortz, Calleigh Brown, and Kayli Schumacher. Wortz played in 112 sets last season and was second on the team in assists with 74. Middle blocker Calleigh Brown played in 109 sets and was second on the team in kills with 297. Kayli Schumacher commands the right side of the net and appeared in 109 sets last year and was named top offensive player for the team.

Last Meeting: The Saints last faced the Blazers in 2007 and were bested by St. Ben's in straight sets.

College of St. Catherine Wildcats Notes: Senior tri-captains Megan Ahlbrecht, Nicole Neuman, and Racquel Reker will lead the way for the Wildcats. Neumann, a MIAC sportsmanship honoree from 2009, anchors the defense from the libero position. Ahlbrecht brings explosiveness to the offensive attack from the middle blocker position, as she holds the second highest single season kill total in team history. Reker adds valuable experience to the front line as a right side hitter. Adding to their veteran presence to the right side of the court are juniors Callie Teigen and Mallory Fultz. Junior Kayla Sis adds to the talent on the front line and will split time as an outside hitter and middle blocker. A large sophomore class gained valuable playing experience in their first season and will provide depth at all areas of the court. Nina Lindquist returns as the setter after establishing a St. Kate's record for most assists in a season and being named MIAC rookie of the year.

Last Meeting: The Saints played the Wildcats already this season at the Saint Mary's Ground Round Sugar Loaf Classic and won 3-1.

St. Olaf Oles Notes: The St. Olaf College volleyball team, ranked 21st in the AVCA preseason poll and currently 16th, is primed to make a run at the MIAC title after posting a third place regular season finish and a runner up showing at the MIAC playoffs in 2009. The Oles return first team American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-American outside hitter Kim Smisek and All-America honorable mention setter Kelly Prunty to lead the charge. Smisek led the nation in kills (4.93/set) while Prunty led the MIAC and was third in the country in set assists (11.11/set).

Smisek's numbers were staggering in 2009. She was in double-digits for kills in all but one match (3-0 loss at CSB on Nov. 7) and had at least 20 eight times. Her 537 kills, rank third in school history. Sophomore Katie Wolfram returns at the other outside spot after a solid first year campaign. Wolfram was second on the team in kills with 256. The Oles also return each of last season's middles -- sophomores Melissa Burch and Maddy Kreykes .Burch and Kreykes showed steady improvement throughout their first season.?Burch averaged 1.96 kills/set while Kreykes collected 1.16/set.

Last Meeting: The last time these two teams met was in 2004 when the Oles beat CSS 3-1.

Minnesota-Morris Cougars Notes: The Cougars are picked to finished third in the UMAC preseason coaches poll. After an even 15-15 record last year, a 9-5 conference record and a third place finish in the UMAC, expectations are high this year for the Cougars. The Cougars have only two seniors on the roster, Jordan Olerud and Megan Theis, so the Cougars will look to many new faces and young talent. The Cougars are off to a good start so far this year as they have won their last five matches after dropping the first three of the year.

Last Meeting: The Saints went 1-1 against Morris last year, winning the first match of the year 3-2 and losing the second match of the year 3-0.