Match Summary

WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University volleyball team opened defense of its Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular-season title in impressive fashion Wednesday, blanking Augsburg 3-0 (30-24, 30-24, 30-24).

Seniors Rhonda Thibault (Faribault, Minn.) and Leslie Nicholls (Hastings, Minn.) — the only starters back from last year's first-ever conference title-winning team — were unstoppable, collecting 14 and 12 kills, respectively. Thibault hit a stellar .650 (20 attempts, 1 error), while Nicholls picked up her 12 kills on 26 attempts with five errors (.269).

Ashley Dingels (Gibbon, Minn.) chipped in eight kills, while Tracy Koertgen (Crystal Lake, Ill.) tallied seven. Melissa Cowan (Algonquin, Ill.) distributed 33 assists and a team-high six service aces. Denise Foster finished with seven kills to pace Augsburg.

The victory is the second in six matches for the Cardinals (1-0 MIAC, 2-4 overall), while Augsburg falls to 2-4 overall (0-1 MIAC).