Box Score Heading into Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) play, the St. Catherine University volleyball team knew it was up against tough competition and would have to play at its best in order to emerge victorious. However, the Wildcats entered their conference opener with the lowest hitting percentage of all MIAC teams and couldn't find a way to overcome it as they suffered a 3-1 (18-25, 25-23, 25-13, 25-22) loss to St. Olaf College Wednesday evening at the Butler Center in St. Paul.
 
The Wildcats – who ranked at the top of the conference in blocking and serving – were off their normal pace as they compiled just two service aces and four team blocks. Combined with a sub-par hitting performance, they couldn't manage to slow down the St. Olaf attack despite taking the first set in commanding fashion and just barely losing the second.
 
Defensively, the Wildcats continued a high level of play as they received another strong performance from libero Shanee Herd (Alexandria, Minn.,) who ranks in the top five in the MIAC for digs and digs per set. The first-year had a team-high 22 digs against the Oles, while Shelby Rachel (Maple Lake, Minn.) also broke double-digits with 14.
 
Offensively, Jana Christensen (North Mankato, Minn.) had the team's best night hitting .231 with six kills. Alyssa Besch (Lakeville, Minn.) had seven kills and a service ace, while Maddy Mullins (Caledonia, Minn.) and Zoe Peterson (Rosemount, Minn.) each added seven kills.
 
Amber Zeiher (LeSueur, Minn.) assisted three of the team's four blocks and also knocked down five kills in favor of the Wildcats. Setter Karsee Knutson (New London, Minn.) also dished out 16 of the team's 34 assists.
 
Leading the way for St. Olaf were Kelly Heissel and Maggie Prunty who each posted double-double performances. Heissel – who ranks fifth in the MIAC in kills per set – knocked down a match high 14 kills and added 17 digs, while Prunty had 12 kills, 11 digs, three aces and two block assists.
 
With the loss, the Wildcats fall to 6-9 on the season and 1-0 in MIAC play. Next up, the Wildcats travel north to take on nationally-ranked No. 10 College of Saint Benedict Saturday at 3 p.m. in St. Joseph, Minn.
 
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