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Game Summary vs. Saint Benedict / GameDay Online

ST. JOSEPH, Minn. — Saint Mary's University volleyball coach Mike Lester was thrilled with his team's start to the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference schedule.

After all, the Cardinals' perfect 3-0 start had them sitting atop the conference standings — a perch Lester was rather fond of.

However, SMU's veteran head coach wasn't about to get too worked up about his team's quick start. After all, three conference wins does not make a season — and the MIAC is filled with minefields that could trip the Cardinals up.

Like Friday's opponent — nationally ranked Saint Benedict.

The Blazers gave SMU a first-hand look at what it takes to be considered about the nation's top NCAA Division III teams Friday, as No. 22 CSB collected its 11th straight win, rolling to a 3-0 (25-23, 25-15, 25-20) MIAC win over the Cardinals.

“Give (Saint Benedict) credit, they are a very good team — and they played very well,” said Lester, whose team fell to 3-1 in the MIAC and 11-7 overall with the loss. “I don't think it's that we played that poorly, it's just that (Saint Benedict) played that well.

“We had leads in both the first and third sets, we just weren't able to get over the hump.”

Courtney Runge (St. James, Minn.) led the way for SMU, collecting 12 kills, while hitting .357. Jessica Mate (St. Charles, Ill.) — last week's Co-MIAC Hitter of the Week — chipped in 11 kills and a pair of ace serves, while Theresa Perrini (Fairway, Kan.) posted 20 digs and Carolyn Kiefer (New London, Wis.) dished out 26 assists.

“The final score definitely didn't tell the whole story,” said Lester, whose team is abck in action Saturday, taking on its second nationally ranked team in as many days with a 3 p.m. at No. 15 Concordia. “But the bottom line is, we still came out on the short end.

“And the road doesn't get any easier — we're going to have to play even better (Saturday) against Concordia.”