Lakeland Box | Coe Box | GameDay Preview

RIPON, Wis. — The Saint Mary's University volleyball got their money's worth during the first two matches of the Red Hawk Invitational Friday evening, stretching both of their opening-day matches to the maximum five sets.

The Cardinals rallied from a 2-0 deficit to beat Lakeland 3-2 in their first match, but couldn't hold a 2-1 lead in their second match against Coe, falling to the Kohawks 3-2.

“It was really a tale of two matches,” said SMU coach Mike Lester. “I told the team after (the Coe match) that it was a lot like the second day in Boston (at the Endicott Tournament).

“We went to five sets against a team (Lakeland) we should have handled rather easily — just like against Plymouth State in Boston,” Lester explained. “And then we lost a match (against Coe) in which we played very, very well — just like our match in Boston against Bowdoin.

“We are definitely playing to the level of the competition, and we've got to shake ourselves out of that. We need to play at our level every time we step on the court.”

The Cardinals dropped the opening two sets against Lakeland, falling 25-23 and 25-21, before rattling off three straight wins — 25-22, 25-19 and 15-10 — to seal the win.

Kara Grant (Peosta, Iowa) led the way for the Cardinals, collecting 23 kills, while Sabrina Bushlack (Mapleton, Minn.) added 11 kills and hit .300. Lexi Assimos (Northbrook, Ill.) dished out 46 assists, while Erika Hurley (Chatfield, Minn.) served up four aces and Tara Rasmussen (Kasson, Minn.) finished with 18 digs.

After dropping the opening set vs. Coe, 25-21, SMU posted 25-23 and 25-21 wins to take a 2-1 lead. From there, however, it was all Coe, as the Kohawks won Set 4 25-19, then iced the win with a 15-12 victory in the fifth and final set.

Grant again led the way for the Cardinals, banging out 24 kills. Bushlack chipped in 16 kills and Janae Fry (Burr Ridge, Ill.) pitched in nine kills with just one error. Assimos notched 51 assists, with Rasmussen recording 27 digs and two aces, and Mary Nodick (Plymouth, Minn.) tallying eight blocks.

The Cardinals (8-5 overall) close out tournament play on Saturday, taking on Marian at 10 a.m. and the University of Wisconsin-Marathon County at noon.