Volleyball

Saint Benedict rallies to repeat as MIAC Volleyball Playoff champions

NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict volleyball team rallied back from a 0-2 deficit to upset top-seeded St. Olaf in a five-set epic and win the program's second consecutive Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Playoff championship on Saturday night in Northfield.
 
| Box Score | Championship Apparel |
 
The dramatic, come-from-behind win secured Saint Benedict's fourth MIAC playoff championship in program history and the Bennies' automatic qualification to the NCAA Division III Volleyball Championship for the second year in a row.
HOW IT HAPPENED
-St. Olaf jumped out to a 2-0 lead with 25-23 and 25-15 results in the first two sets. The Bennies battled back, however, with a 25-18 victory in the third set and a 25-20 win in the fourth.

-Both teams found themselves with match-point opportunities in a back-and-forth final frame. After St. Olaf claimed a 15-14 advantage, Saint Ben's rattled off three straight points to hand the Oles their first loss against a MIAC opponent this season.

-Saint Benedict sophomore setter Izzy Torve logged her second assist-dig double-double of the MIAC Playoffs with 20 assists and 13 digs for the Bennies, while Brooke Andries and McKenna Moehrle each logged 3.0 total blocks at the net.

-St. Olaf junior outside hitter Evelyn Kreft recorded a season-high 20 kills for the Oles, while MIAC Defensive Player of the Year Morgan Ryan finished with a match-high 33 digs - two shy of her best single-match output of the season.
CHAMPIONSHIP APPAREL
For the next 48 hours, Saint Benedict fans can purchase official MIAC Volleyball Playoff champion t-shirts, hats, and sweatshirts to commemorate the Bennies' historic team title. The limited-time MIAC Playoff online store is powered by UNRestricted MKTG and will accept orders until 5:00 p.m. on Monday, November 17. Orders will ship 10-14 days after the store closes. Saint Benedict fans can purchase their official MIAC Volleyball Playoff team champion apparel here.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
-With the victory, Saint Benedict advances to the NCAA Tournament for the 25th time in program history.

-The Bennies have now won four MIAC Volleyball Playoff titles (2009, 2017, 2024, and 2025) since the conference moved to a six-team format in 2001.

-Saint Benedict becomes one of four MIAC volleyball programs to have won at least four conference playoff titles, joining St. Thomas (7), Gustavus (6), and Concordia (4).

-This is now the sixth time since the MIAC Playoff format began in 2001 that a program has successfully repeated as tournament champions. CSB now joins Concordia (2003-04), St. Thomas (2007-08 and 2012-14), and Gustavus (2015-16 and 2021-23) in achieving that feat.

-This is the third MIAC Playoff title match in the last four postseasons to be settled in five sets. Unfortunately for St. Olaf, the Oles have been on the side of heartbreak in all three, suffering 3-2 losses in 2022, 2023, and now 2025.

-No. 3 Saint Benedict upset both No. 2 Gustavus and No. 1 St. Olaf in five sets during the MIAC Playoff run after falling to both teams in four sets during the 2025 regular season.
NPI OUTLOOK
-The NCAA Power Index (NPI) is used to select the 21 at-large bids for the 64-team NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Tournament after the 43 automatic qualifiers have been determined on November 15. The D3Playbook has projected the NPI cut line for volleyball at-large candidates to be at No. 43.

-The most recent NPI rankings on November 15 listed St. Olaf at No. 28, Gustavus at No. 39, and Saint Benedict at No. 55.

-Entering the championship match ranked No. 55, Saint Benedict's only path to the NCAA Tournament was through the automatic qualifier, which the Bennies have now earned.

-The Oles and Gusties remain in contention for at-large consideration. The number of MIAC teams to receive an at-large invitation to the NCAA Volleyball Championship will depend on which teams claim the other 42 conference AQs across the rest of D-III, and where St. Olaf and Gustavus land when the dust settles on the NPI chart.
UP NEXT
-The 64-team bracket for the 2025 NCAA Division III Volleyball Championship tournament will be revealed during the NCAA.com annual selection show on Monday, November 17, at noon Central time.

-The regional rounds of the national tournament with be held from Thursday, November 20, through Saturday, November 22. The Elite Eight, Final Four, and national championship matches are scheduled for December 3-6 at the Shirk Center in Bloomington, Illinois, and will be hosted by Illinois Wesleyan University.

-The 2025 MIAC Volleyball All-Playoff Team will be announced on Monday, November 17.
2025 MIAC VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
Quarterfinals | Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025 | 7:00 PM |
No. 3 Saint Benedict 3, No. 6 Augsburg 0 | Box Score |
No. 4 Bethel 3, No. 5 St. Catherine 1 | Box Score |
 
Semifinals | Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025 | 7:00 PM |
No. 1 St. Olaf 3, No. 4 Bethel 0 | Box Score |
No. 3 Saint Benedict 3, No. 2 Gustavus 2 | Box Score |
 
Championship | Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025 | 7:00 PM |
No. 3 Saint Benedict 3, No. 1 St. Olaf 2 | Box Score |
 
| 2025 MIAC Volleyball Playoffs |