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WINONA, Minn. — For the first two sets of Wednesday evening's Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference match against Carleton, the Saint Mary's University volleyball team could do no wrong.

Over the final three sets, however, it was the Knights who had the Midas Touch.

Carleton rallied from two sets down to win three straight in handing the Cardinals a 3-2 setback at the SMU Gym.

“It's tough,” said SMU coach Mike Lester of the loss, which eliminated the Cardinals' from post-season contention. “I thought we played great in those first two sets — and you have to tip your hat to (Carleton), they played very well — it's just a tough match to come up short in.

“We knew what was on the line, and everyone played their hearts out — we just came up a bit short.”

The Cardinals dominated the opening two sets, winning 25-14 and 25-21, but Carleton turned the tables in the next two sets, posting back-to-back 25-18 wins to force a fifth set. In a see-saw fifth, SMU held a 9-8 advantage, but Carleton used a 5-1 run to take a 13-10 advantage and never looked back in closing out the match with a 15-11 win.

Megan Leisen (Kellogg, Minn.) led the Cardinals' offensive attack, recording 17 kills while Carissa Hahn (Hutchinson, Minn.) chipped in 10. Lexi Assimos — who recorded her 2,000th career assist on SMU's 20th point of the first set — finished with 41 assists and Cathy Rennie (Pine Island, Minn.) led four players in double figures with 21 digs.

Jessa Youso recorded a match-high 23 kills for the Knights, while Alicia Flatt dished out 55 assists and Camille Benson posted 40 digs.

The Cardinals (4-6 MIAC, 13-14 overall) close out their season on Saturday, hosting Gustavus in the final collegiate match for SMU seniors Hahn, Leisen, Rennie and Tara Rasmussen (Kasson, Minn.). Match time is set for 3 p.m. at the SMU Gym.