Match Summary

ST. PAUL, Minn. — After opening the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference season with a disappointing 3-0 loss to Bethel, Saint Mary's University volleyball coach Mike Lester figured the best thing for his Cardinals was a week off before their next match.

It wasn't.

The Cardinals' conference struggles continued Wednesday, as SMU dropped its second straight 3-0 decision, falling to Macalester 30-22, 30-15, 30-24.

And the road doesn't get any easier for the Cardinals (0-2 MIAC, 4-7 overall), as SMU returns to action this weekend, playing host to St. Benedict on Friday and Concordia on Saturday. The Blazers enter Friday's match as the nation's 15th-ranked team, while the Cobbers are ranked No. 16 in the latest AVCA Top 25 poll.