Benson volleyball records first win of 2024
By Sam Peterson
Swift County Monitor
The Benson volleyball team had a busy week last week with two regular matches and four three-set matches in their home tournament and even recorded their first win of 2024. They started the week hosting Sauk Centre in Benson Sept. 10 and lost 3-0. Next, the team was on the road against Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta and fell 3-0 Sept. 12. Over the weekend, Benson hosted their home tournament and played four two-set matches. They started with their first win of the season over Ashby 2-0. In the next three matches, Benson fell to Dawson-Boyd, Ortonville and Lac qui Parle Valley, all by the same score of 2-0.
Sauk Centre 3
Benson 0
The Braves welcomed one of the top teams in the West Central Conference to Benson, Sauk Centre. The Mainstreeters came into Benson with a business-like approach and cruised their way to a 3-0 sweep with all three sets being decided by at least 11 points.
Sauk Centre started the match off with a stress-free 25-14 win in the first set. The Streeters followed that up with another win in the second set by the same score. Sauk Centre put any hopes of a comeback to bed early in the third set and they sprinted away with the third to win 25-10 to complete the sweep over Benson.
Jada O’Leary led the Braves on offense with a team high seven kills. Carly Tolifson finished with five kills and Alexis Hoberg, Hallie Kobbermann and Madison Osterbauer each added two kills. Julia Claussen finished with all 16 of Benson’s set assists.
At the service line, Benson finished with one ace from Sofia Schwiderski.
On defense, Benson finished with five players with at least six digs. Mya McGeary and Gwen Wilcox led the team with nine digs, Sophie Krusemark and Tolifson each had seven digs and Claussen dug out six. At the net, Benson had four blocks with two from Kobbermann and one each from Hoberg and Osterbauer.
MACA 3
Benson 0
Benson headed on the road for a matchup with conference rival Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta. The Braves were swept for the fifth straight time with a 3-0 loss to the Tigers.
The Tigers sent a message in the first set, sprinting away with a 25-14 blowout over Benson. The Braves were able to close the gap in the second set, but MACA still earned a 25-18 win to take a commanding 2-0 advantage. The third set was the most competitive, but MACA was never really in threat of losing the set, finishing the sweep with a 25-21 win in the third.
Offensively, Hoberg was the only player to finish with more than three kills, leading the team with six. Tolifson added three kills, O’Leary and Osterbauer each finished with two and McGeary and Claussen each added one. Claussen recorded all 15 of the team’s set assists.
At the service line, the Braves added three aces. Claussen led the way with two and Tolifson chipped in with one.
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