GameDay Rewind:
Box Score /
Photo Gallery / GameDay Preview
WINONA, Minn. — Coming off what was a storybook season for the Saint Mary's volleyball team, coach
Mike Lester and his Cardinals were ready to turn the page and begin a new chapter.
And while the first chapter may not have gone the Cardinals' way — with SMU falling 3-1 in a nonconference match against Viterbo Wednesday evening at the SMU Gym — there was plenty to build on.
The Cardinals were competitive throughout, but fell 25-21 in the opening set, bounced back for a 25-22 come-from-behind victory in the second set, but fell in game's final two sets 25-15 and 25-16, respectively.
“We are much further along this year than we were at this time last year,” Lester said. “Communication and consistency were the two big things tonight, but you expect that in the early part of the season and if we fix that, we'll be alright.”
The big positive for the Cardinals was their performance in the second set, when Viterbo jumped out to a 9-3 lead, before the Cardinals closed the gap, and eventually went on for the 25-22 win.
“That was kind of our calling card last year, was that we are never out of a game,” Lester said. “And seeing that same type of determination in the first match of the season is good to see.”
And while Lester will be the first to admit that the Cardinals made their fair share of mistakes, they are mistakes that can be corrected — and are almost expected in the season opener.
“There was no question we needed to see where we are in a game situation,” Lester said. “The inconsistency was frustrating at times, but it is only game one, and we have some things to build on for this weekend.”
Sarah Gardner (Rochester, Minn.) and
Jessica Mate (St. Charles, Ill.) led the way for the Cardinals, collecting 17 kills each. With her 10th kill of the match in the third set, Gardner eclipsed the 1,000-career kill mark, while Mate is close behind, needing just 31 more kills to join the 1,000-Kill Club.
Saint Mary's is back in action this weekend. as the Cardinals host the SMU Sugar Loaf Classic. The Cardinals square off against St. Scholastica (4 p.m.) and Luther (8 p.m.) on Friday evening, before taking on UW-Stout (noon) and Loras (4 p.m.) on Saturday.
