Box Score | GameDay Preview

ST. PAUL, Minn. — After going their first nine contests without playing a match that was decided in four sets, the Saint Mary's University volleyball team played its second straight four-setter Wednesday night.

And, unfortunately for the Cardinals, the 3-1 decision had the same outcome as the first — a loss.

After splitting the first two sets, St. Catherine took control, winning Sets 3 and 4 en route to a 3-1 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference victory over SMU.

“It was a good match, a match that could have gone either way,” said SMU coach Mike Lester, whose team dropped a 3-1 decision to Augsburg last Saturday and now sits at 1-2 in the MIAC after three conference matches. “Both teams served very well — St. Catherine was just a little better than we were, and that was the difference.”

The Wildcats kicked things off with a 25-22 win in the opening set, with Saint Mary's answering with a 25-23 victory to tie the match at 1-1. That, however, was as close as the Cardinals would get, as SCU won the third set 25-17, then outlasted SMU 29-27 in the fourth set to seal the win.

Kara Grant (Peosta, Iowa) led the way for the Cardinals, collecting 14 kills and two blocks, while Lexi Assimos (Northbrook, Ill.) dished out 34 assists and Tara Rasmussen (Kasson, Minn.) had a team-best 14 digs.

Brittini Wangerin compiled a match-high 16 kills, and Stephanie Meschke chipped in 12 kills for the Wildcats. Ashley Kahlow and Jordyn Wentland picked up 23 and 22 assists, respectively, with Callie Teigen posting 29 digs.

The Cardinals (1-2 MIAC, 7-4 overall) are back in action Friday, when they travel to Ripon, Wis., for the two-day Ripon Invitational.