Match Summary

WINONA, Minn. — The game plan was simple – stay out of those early-game holes, and play at a consistent level for the entire match.

Carrying out the plan, however, wasn't quite so easy for the Saint Mary's University volleyball team.

The Cardinals fell behind 24-10 in the first game and 10-1 in the second and never recovered as St. Benedict roared to a 3-0 (30-14, 30-11, 31-29) Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference victory Friday evening at the SMU Gym.

"New day, same old story," said SMU coach Mike Lester, whose team has now dropped three straight MIAC matches — all by identical 3-0 scores. "We talked as team before the match about the importance of coming out and not falling behind early, yet, that's exactly what happened again tonight.

"Once we settled in in that third game, I thought we played very well – unfortunately, by that time, it's too late."

The Blazers, who entered Friday's game ranked No. 15 in the latest AVCA Top 25 poll, pulled away from the Cardinals in Game 1 using an 8-0 run to turn a 16-10 game into a 24-10 rout. And it was more of the same in Game 2, as CSB scored 10 of the first 11 points and led 23-5 en route to the 2-0 lead.

SMU finally got on track in the third game, taking its first lead of the night — 28-27 — and led 29-27, only to have the Blazers score the final four points to seal the win.

"How can a team hit .000 in Game 1, -219 in Game 2, and then hit .396 in Game 3," said Lester, shaking his head in frustration. "We need to play like we did in the third game the entire match.

If we do that, I think the outcome would have been totally different," continued Lester. "We talked after the match and I told the team that what they need to do is remember how they played in that third game — and forget the rest.

"If we can play like that (Saturday against Concordia), we can give them a run for their money."