LA CROSSE, Wis. — The Saint Mary's University volleyball team hits the road for the first time this season on Wednesday, traveling to UW-La Crosse for a 7 p.m. nonconference match against the Eagles.



The Matchup:
Saint Mary's Cardinals (3-1 Overall)
At UW-La Crosse Eagles  (0-4 Overall)

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Last Action:
The Cardinals are coming off a 3-1 showing at the Ground Round Sugar Loaf Classic last weekend. SMU beat Edgewood (3-0), Simpson (3-0) and Luther (3-1), while falling to Nebraska Wesleyan (3-1). … UW-La Crosse, meanwhile, came up empty in that same tournament last weekend, falling to Luther (3-0), Nebraska Wesleyan (3-0), Edgewood (3-2) and St. Thomas (3-1)

SMU vs. UW-La Crosse — Their Last Meeting:
Sept. 2, 2011: Being that it was their first match of the season, the Cardinals decided to get in a little extra work against UW-La Crosse in their opening match of the Ground Round Sugar Loaf Classic. And thanks to a 15-8 win in the fifth and decisive set, the Cardinals came away with a season-opening, 3-2 (26-24, 22-25, 25-17, 19-25, 15-8) victory over the Eagles at the SMU Gym.

Up Next:
The Cardinals are right back in action this weekend, traveling to Mankato, Minn., to take part in the two-day Bethany Lutheran Tournament. SMU opens with matches against UW-Superior and Wartburg on Friday, and then squares off against UW-Oshkosh and host Bethany Lutheran on Saturday. … UW-La Crosse is also headed to a tournament this weekend, traveling to St. Paul, Minn., to compete in the Hamline Tournament. UW-L faces Crown and Buena Vista on Friday and meets UW-River Falls and Presentation on Saturday.

Scouting The Saint Mary's Cardinals:
2012 Roster | 2012 Statistics | 2012 Schedule
With their 3-1 showing at the Ground Round Sugar Loaf Classic, the Cardinals have now finished with a 3-1 record in five of their last six regular-season tournaments. … SMU is boasting a combined 16-2 record in its last four Ground Round Sugar Loaf Classic and is now 42-22 in the tournament's 16-year history. … Lexi Assimos (Northbrook, Ill.) and Molly Grover (Zumbrota, Minn.) were both named to the Ground Round Sugar Loaf Classic All-Tournament Team. … Assimos has now been named to the all-tournament team in five of the Cardinals' last six regular-season tournaments. … Assimos accumulated 137 assists in SMU's four tournament matches last weekend, while adding 19 kills, a .349 attack percentage, 37 digs and seven blocks. … Grover recorded 36 kills, hit .296 and had four blocks in earning her all-tournament selection. … Mary Nordick (Plymouth, Minn.) heads into Wednesday's match against UW-La Crosse with team highs in kills (37) and blocks (11). … SMU, which was victorious in the first set in 15 of its 17 wins last season, won Set 1 in all three of their wins at the Ground Round Sugar Loaf Classic.

Scouting The UW-La Crosse Eagles:
2012 Roster | 2012 Statistics | 2012 Schedule
The Eagles enter Wednesday's match against Saint Mary's still searching for their first win of the 2012 season, having dropped all four matches at the Ground Round Sugar Loaf Classic last weekend. … Leah Putzler led the way for UW-L last weekend, collecting 50 kills (3.33 kps) in the Eagles' four tournament matches. Putzler also added 28 digs and three blocks. … Chantel York and Cassie Raduka shared the setting duties at the Sugar Loaf Classic, with York dishing out 52 assists, while Raduka chipped in 43. … Katie Kaufman posted a team-best 64 digs, while also leading the team with eight service aces. … After Wednesday's match against Saint Mary's, the Eagles will play 10 of their next 11 matches on the road.