Match Summary | GameDay Preview

ST. PETER, Minn. – It wasn't quite the ending Mike Lester was hoping his Cardinals would write Saturday afternoon, but the Saint Mary's University volleyball coach certainly enjoyed SMU's entire body of work in 2011.

“Obviously, you would like to end your season with a win, but it was a great match – a match that could have gone either way,” said Lester, whose team closed out its season with a 3-1 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference setback Saturday afternoon at Gustavus. “We've been in so many close matches, that it was no surprise that this one was a nailbiter as well.”

Mary Nordick (Plymouth, Minn.) and Kara Grant (Peosta, Iowa) led the way for the Cardinals, collecting 11 kills each, while Sabrina Bushlack (Mapleton, Minn.) chipped in 10. Lexi Assimos (Northbrook, Ill.) recorded 34 assists and 10 digs, while Megan Schulz (Andover, Minn.) tallied 18 digs. Erika Hurley (Chatfield, Minn.), playing in her final collegiate match, chipped in 12 digs.

The Cardinals closed out the season 3-8 in conference play and 17-14 overall.