Box Score  | GameDay Preview

LA CROSSE, Wis. — The Saint Mary's University volleyball team won the opening set in all three of its wins at last weekend's Ground Round Sugar Loaf Classic. In their lone loss — a 3-1 setback to Nebraska Wesleyan — the Cardinals were on the short end of a 25-18 Set 1 setback.

Wednesday evening, the Cardinals opened their nonconference match against UW-La Crosse with a 25-22 — which left SMU coach Mike Lester hoping the history of last weekend's season-opening Sugar Loaf Classic would repeat itself.

UW-La Crosse, however, had other ideas, as the Eagles swept the next three sets — 25-19, 25-19, 25-22 — to beat the Cardinals 3-1.

“We just did not play very well tonight,” said Lester. “Our energy level wasn't where it was last weekend and that was the difference. In order for us to successful, we have to play hard and with a lot of energy — tonight we played a little fatigued.

“But you've got to give (UW-La Crosse) a ton of credit — they played an up-tempo match and kept us out of system all night.”

Mary Nordick (Plymouth, Minn.) led the way for the Cardinals, hitting .321 on her way to a team-leading 11 kills. Lexi Assimos (Northbrook, Ill.) — fresh off an All-Tournament performance at the Ground Round Sugar Loaf Classic last weekend — finished with 34 of the team's 37 assists, while Cathy Rennie (Pine Island, Minn.) and Lex Krogstad (Chicago, Ill.) chipped in 15 and 13 digs, respectively.

Leah Putzier finished with a match-high 13 kills for UW-La Crosse, while Chantel York and Cassie Raduka dished out 24 and 16 assists, respectively, and Putzier and Lauren Probst tallied 12 digs each.

The Cardinals (3-2 overall) are back in action this weekend, traveling to Mankato, Minn., to take part in the Bethany Lutheran Tournament. SMU will face UW-Superior and Wartburg on Friday, then square off against UW-Oshkosh and host Bethany Lutheran on Saturday.