DE PERE - St. Norbert College got its 2025 season off to a solid start with a pair of wins on the first day of its Chick-fil-A Invitational at Mulva Family Fitness & Sports Center.

The Green Knights topped Augsburg University 3-0 in their opener, winning 25-16, 25-23, 25-23. St. Norbert then defeated Gallaudet University 3-1, posting scores of 25-21, 22-25, 25-20, 25-22. The win over Gallaudet came against a program that has posted a combined 61-9 record with a pair of NCAA Division III Tournament appearances in the last two seasons.

Against Augsburg, the Green Knights pulled away from a 7-7 tie in Set 1 with an 8-3 run to take a 15-10 lead and eventually pulled away. The Auggies hung around throughout Set 2, closing to within two points several times late and then 24-23, but a Mari Szews kill pushed the Green Knights ahead 2-0. The third set was also hard fought, with Augsburg leading 22-21, but a 3-0 St. Norbert lead off a Claire Leynse service ace, a combo block from Szews and Casey Vaughan (pictured) and an Auggie attacking error put St. Norbert ahead 24-22. Augsburg scored a point but a Heidi Colburn kill sealed the sweep.

St. Norbert hit .250 against Augsburg, getting 45 kills against 13 errors in 128 attempts. Szews had 14 kills against one error in 19 attempts, while Vaughan ha 13 kills. Mickenzi Benter added nine kills. Colburn totaled 34 assists. Kara Sowinski finished with a team-high 14 digs, with Vaughan adding 12, Andrianna Volz 11 and Colburn 10. Kirsten Klatt finished with four blocks, while Benter, Szews and Anna Kudick all had two apiece.

Against Gallaudet, St. Norbert jumped out to a big 9-2 lead, including three-straight service aces by Colburn to open the match. The Bison scratched back to within 20-17 late in Set 1, but would get no closer. A block by Szews and Benter on set point put St. Norbert ahead 1-0. The Green Knights trailed for most of Set 2, getting to within two points on three occasions late in the match, but had to settle for a 1-1 tie after two sets. St. Norbert responded with a fast start in Set 3, leading 10-3. The Green Knights' lead never dipped below four points en route to a 2-1 match edge. Gallauget opened Set 4 with a pair of points, but after a Kudick kill Volz rattled off four consecutive service aces for a 5-2 lead. Gallaudet would lead 13-12 but an 8-3 run by St. Norbert put them in control. The Green Knights led 22-21, but kills by Kudick and Benter gave St. Norbert some breathing room and eventually closed out the win.

The Green Knights hit .266, with 61 kills against 20 errors in 154 attempts. Vaughan had 17 kills, while Benter had 14 and Szews 13. Colburn had 38 assists. Volz finished with six service aces and Colburn five, with the team netting 16 for the match. Sowinski finished with 17 digs, with Colburn added 12 and Claire Leynse 11. Szews posted four blocks, with Colburn adding three, and Benter and Vaughan with two apiece.