ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The St. Catherine University volleyball team defeated the College of Saint Benedict on Senior Day downing the Bennies 3-1 for the first time since 2015. The 3-1 win improves the Wildcats to 7-3 in the conference a milestone they have not achieved since the 1993 season. This is just the fourth time in program history that the team has achieved seven Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) win. Tonight's win also punches the Wildcats ticket to the playoffs for the first time since 2010. 

Junior Maggie Rosen had a night with a career and match-best 19 kills with an attack percentage of .370.  Senior Marissa Gilbertson recorded 25 assists, 16 of which contributed to Rosen's career night. Claire Segner collected 23 digs in the four set match while also adding four assists. Senior Allison Marso tallied five blocks including two solo plus had four kills. 

The Bennies came out strong taking an 9-1 lead to start the first set before the Wildcats rallied back to knot it up at 16-16. St. Kate's took the lead at 19-18 holding the advantage through the end of the set with a 25-23 win. 

Set two began how set one finished going back and forth with the Bennies again getting ahead before the Wildcats tied it at 18-18. St. Kate's went on a six point run going up 23-18 and sealed the set at 25-21. 

The Bennies weren't ready to go home claiming set three by a score of 25-15 forcing the Wildcats to eight errors.

The fourth and final set was a battle again with St. Kate's going up 8-4 when Saint Ben's inched back and took the lead at 9-8. Both teams tied a total of eleven times in the set while also changing the lead six different times.  Trailing by one at 23-24, the duo of Rosen from Gilbertson tied it followed by a bad set on the opposite side of the net to give the Wildcats the 25-24 lead and they struck on more time to claim the win. 

St. Kate's will finish the regular season on Saturday traveling to Macalester College for a 5 pm match and will learn their seed for the MIAC playoffs following conclusion of the conference schedule. The first round of playoffs begin on Tuesday, November 1 at 7 pm for teams finishing 3rd-6th. Gustavus Adolphus will be the No. 1 seed in the playoffs earning a first-round bye along with the No. 2 seed playing their first match on Thursday, November 3 at 7 pm.