Cardinals' run comes to screeching halt

Donny Nadeau, SMU Sports Information Office

Match Summary

ARDEN HILLS, Minn. — For the Saint Mary's University volleyball team, just getting into the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament meant a month full of must-win matches.

Five in a row to be exact.

And once the Cardinals finally locked up that all-important tournament berth — outlasting Gustavus 3-2 on Oct. 30 — SMU coach Mike Lester was hoping his squad could enjoy a lengthy post-season run.

Unfortunately for the Cardinals, their "run" took them head-on into a brick wall in the shape of Bethel College, as the Royals escaped with a 3-2 (27-30, 30-17, 18-30, 30-19, 16-14) victory — not only ending SMU's five-match winning streak, but also the Cardinals' season.

Kirstan Rouzer (Comstock, Wis.) led the way for the Cardinals (15-14 overall), recording a match-high 29 kills and 22 digs. Ashley Dingels (Gibbon, Minn.) chipped in 17 kills and three blocks, while Tracy Koertgen (Crystal Lake, Ill.) tallied 10 kills and 13 digs. Melissa Cowan (Algonquin, Ill.), playing in her final collegiate match, dished out 63 assists.

After trading wins in Games 1-4, SMU held leads of 12-9 and 14-13, before falling 16-14.

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