LISLE, Ill. - Saint Mary's College Volleyball continued their hot start to the season, defeating Benedictine University, 3-1, on Wednesday night. The Belles improve to 5-0 to open the season while the Eagles fall to 1-3.

Saint Mary's would take the first set, 25-19, as their defense held strong throughout the set. They would Benedictine to just a .023 hitting percentage in the set. Junior Caroline Carens (Naperville, IL) would lead the team with 6 kills in the set while freshman Maddia Taitano (Tacoma, WA) would add 3.

The Eagles would come out and take the second set handly, 25-15, to even the match at one. Carens would move into double-digit kills for the fifth straight match, finishing the set with 10 and leading the match.

Saint Mary's would storm right back and take the second set, 25-18, to go up 2-1 in the match. The Belles had a great distribution of wealth in the third set, as five players finished the set with three or more kills. Both sophomore Giuliana Graczyk (Chicago, IL) and junior Abby Reese (Elkhart, IN) had double digit assists while three Belles had double-digit digs.

After Benedictine would take an early lead in the fourth set, going up by as much as five points, Saint Mary's would bounce right back and go on a 10-4 run to close out the set and take the set, 25-23, and the match, 3-1.

Carens would lead the match with a season-high 18 kills while freshman Shannon Rudge (Granger, IN) would add nine. Seniors Delaney Martin (North Judson, IN) and Grace Braselton (Grand Rapids, MI) along with Taitano would each add five. Graczyk would lead the Belles with 24 assists while Reese would tally 14 of her own. Senior Karli Fegan (Orland Park, IL) and Rudge would each snag 17 digs to lead the team while Reese would contribute 15 and Graczyk added 14.

UP NEXT FOR THE BELLES

Saint Mary's returns home for their home opener on Tuesday, September 9, as they host Benedictine for a 7pm matchup. This is the first of a three-game homestand for the Belles as they also welcome in Manchester University on September 12 and Franklin College on September 16.