10/20/06

Seeking to stay in the top four of the conference standings, the fourth place St. Scholastica Saints faced a must-win match with the Presentation College Saints on Friday evening in the Reif Center at CSS.

Ahead of fifth place Minnesota-Morris by a half game going into the evening’s action, St. Scholastica’s 3-1 win over the visitors from Presentation keeps the Saints in one of the coveted spots for the four-team post-season conference tournament – at least until they play Morris on Saturday afternoon.

A revamped lineup due to the loss of a regular starter was still working the bugs out against Presentation, a team CSS beat three games to none in an earlier season match-up.

Each match was tight to the finish as the Saints broke out to a two game lead with 30-28 and 30-27 wins before falling 28-30 in game three. But they were able to break a 27-27 tie in game four to score the final three points and secure the match victory.

Leading the Saints offensively were a trio of players that each reached double-figures in kills for the match. Shawna Varichak registered 17 kills, Amy Thompson had 15, and LeAnn Berscheit added 12 for the Saints.

Heidi Meier of Presentation was the match leader with 25 in the loss.

St. Scholastica Setter Kati Berscheit, the UMAC’s set assists leader, made a quick return from an injury suffered last Friday and picked up 46 assists on the night.

Defensive specialist Diana Moody had 30 digs for St. Scholastica while Thompson chipped in with 23.

The Saints (15-13, 6-4 UMAC) take on Morris at 1 p.m. on Saturday at the Reif Center, then close out the home portion of their schedule on Sunday evening against Crown College at 7 p.m. also in the Reif.