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WINONA, Minn. — The final score may have read 3-0, but there wasn't anything easy about the Saint Mary's University volleyball team's victory over Loras Saturday morning at the Gostomski Fieldhouse.

“That was a battle,” said SMU coach Mike Lester, whose squad was stretched beyond the limit in the opening two sets, winning 27-25 and 28-26, before closing out the match with a 25-18 victory in the third set. “We played well, and Loras played well. It was a great match.”

Kara Grant (Peosta, Iowa) led a trio of Cardinals in double figures with a career-best 17 kills, while Amy Kujak (River Falls, Wis.) chipped in 11 kills and Mary Nordick (Plymouth, Minn.) tallied 10 kills and hit a team-leading .389.

Lexi Assimos (Northbrook, Ill.) dished out 44 assists in the three sets, while Erik Hurley (Chatfield, Minn.) finished with a team-high 16 digs. Cathy Rennie (Pine Island, Minn.) and Assimos each added 13 digs, with Grant adding 11.

Along with her 16 digs, Hurley also accounted for four of the Cardinals six service aces.

Regan Riley and Kaity Frost led the Duhawks' offensive attack, collecting 11 and 10 kills, respectively.

The Cardinals, who improve to 3-0, close out their Sugar Loaf Classic schedule at 4 p.m. Saturday, squaring off against Luther.