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MENOMONIE, Wis. — The last time the Saint Mary's University volleyball team squared off against UW-Stevens Point, the end result was a 3-1 Cardinal victory.

That was four years ago.

The Cardinals and Pointers squared off again on Saturday during the second day of the UW-Stout Invitational — and once again the match ended in a 3-1 decision.

This time around, however, it was the Pointers who came out on top, jumping out to convincing 25-16 and 25-19 wins in the first two sets en route to the 3-1 (25-16, 25-19, 26-28, 25-23) nonconference victory.

And, unfortunately for the Cardinals, the second match of the day didn't go any better, as host UW-Stout rallied from a 2-1 deficit to beat SMU 3-2.

Mary Nordick (Plymouth, Minn.) and Carissa Hahn (Hutchinson, Minn.) were the Cardinals' offensive leaders against UW-Stevens Point, collecting 11 and 10 kills, respectively. Hahn also delivered two service aces and 16 digs, while Lexi Assimos (Northbrook, Ill.) chipped in eight kills and a team-leading 33 assists, and Lex Krogstad (Chicago, Ill.) recorded a team-high 22 digs.

The Cardinals appeared to be in control in their second match of the day against UW-Stout, sandwiching 25-19 and 25-21 wins around a 29-27 Set 2 loss to take a 2-1 advantage. The Blue Devils, however, outlasted SMU 27-25 in the fourth set and completed the comeback with a 15-10 victory in the fifth and decisive set.

Nordick and Hahn once again spearheaded the Cardinal offensive attack, as Nordick hammered out 15 kills, with Hahn chipping in 13. Jenna Sullivan (Woodbury, Minn.) also finished in double figures with 10 kills, while Assimos dished out 44 assists — marking the second time in as many days, and the fourth time this season, the junior setter has eclipsed the 40-assist mark. Krogstad and Tara Rasmussen (Kasson, Minn.) each had career matches, as Krogstad collected 36 digs, while Rasmussen finished with 30.

The Cardinals (12-12 overall) return to Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action on Friday, as SMU hosts nationally ranked St. Thomas in the first of four straight home matches to close out the regular season. Friday's match is slated for 7 p.m. at the SMU Gym.