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WINONA, Minn. — With AVCA No. 15-ranked St. Thomas University coming to town for a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference soiree, the Saint Mary's University volleyball team knew it would have its hands full.

Unfortunately for the 24th-ranked Cardinals, it was St. Thomas who brought more punch to the party.

The Tommies took advantage of some Cardinals' mistakes, and swept SMU in three straight sets, 25-13, 25-23, 25-13 on Wednesday night at the SMU Gym.

“I told our team coming in that it would be the team that was the most aggressive and most consistent,” SMU coach Mike Lester said. “And they had plenty more kills than we did, and a lot less mistakes.”

After a slow start doomed SMU in the first set, the Cardinals showed signs of life in the second set. After falling behind 12-7, the Cardinals rattled off eight straight points to take a 14-12. The Tommies battled back to take a 23-22 lead and the Cardinals never recovered.

“We definitely could have played better, but it does help us going forward knowing that we can play with them,” said SMU freshman Lexi Assimos (Northbrook, Ill.), who finished with a team-leading 17 assists. “We weren't intimidated by them at all, we just need to come out with more intensity.”

St. Thomas jumped out to an early 13-3 lead in the third set, and never looked back in completing the sweep.

“I know our kids our disappointed and feel like they didn't put their best game out there tonight,” said Lester, who got a match-high 12 kills from Sarah Gardner (Rochester, Minn.), while Tara Rasmussen (Kasson, Minn.) chipped in 15 digs. “But we'll get back in the gym tomorrow and fix what we need to and get ready for (Saturday's match at Carleton).

“We didn't play our best tonight, but I'm not worried moving forward.”