WINONA, Minn. — For the Saint Mary's University of Minnesota volleyball team, it was like stepping out of the frying pan and into the fire.
 
Less than 24 hours after dropping a heartbreaking 3-2 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference decision to Saint Benedict Friday evening in a battle of conference unbeaten, the Cardinals squared off against yet another MIAC league-leader in Concordia.
 
The Cobbers entered Saturday's showdown with the Cardinals riding a five-match winning streak—not to mention boasting an unblemished 4-0 conference record.
 
Saint Mary's, however, was unfazed by the Cobbers' impressive resume—much less the heartbreaking loss to the Blazers the night before—using a 14-0 run to start the second set and an 8-0 burst to end the third to put away Concordia, 3-0 on Senior Day at the Saint Mary's Gym.
 
"That match really says a lot about the makeup of this team," said Saint Mary's coach Mike Lester. "Last night's match was a tough one—we certainly played well enough to come away with a win. But they didn't let that match affect how they came out and competed today.
 
"They were determined not to have a repeat of Friday, that's for sure."
 
After a see-saw first set that saw the Cardinals come away with a 25-23 victory, the match took the first of two incredible turns.
 
Saint Mary's rode the serving of Jenna Sullivan (Woodbury, Minn.)—one of seven seniors honored before the match—who rattled off 13 unanswered points to give the Cardinals a commanding 14-0 advantage. Concordia would rally, but it was too little, too late, as Saint Mary's closed out the set, 25-18, for a commanding 2-0 advantage.
 
The Cobbers regained a bit of  momentum early in the third set—taking an early 6-0 lead, before holding what appeared to be an insurmountable 24-18 advantage.
 
Fortunately for Saint Mary's, things aren't always as they appear.
 
The Cardinals would not be denied, recording eight unanswered points, the final one on a kill by Alex Peterson (Harmony, Minn.)—another of those seven senior honorees—to complete the 3-0 sweep.
 
"That comeback in the third set was remarkable," Lester said. "Any mistake at all on our part, and (Concordia) wins that set. This team just has no quit in it—no way they were going to throw in the towel and play for a fourth set."
 
Peterson finished with a team-high 10 kills, while Sullivan chipped in nine, and Macki Fadness (Eau Claire, Wis.) and Cassidy Bittle (Winona, Minn.) each added eight. Sullivan also delivered 15 digs and four service aces, with Lex Krogstad (Chicago, Ill.) equaled her dig total with 15 of her own, while Tayler MacVey (Dodge Center, Minn.) and Brittney Hanson (Janesville, Iowa) combined for 35 kills—20 from MacVey and 15 from Hanson.
 
Vanessa Johnson finished with eight kills and Jena Klaphake had 19 assists in the losing effort for Concordia (4-1 MIAC, 11-5 overall).
 
The Cardinals (4-1 MIAC, 15-3 overall) are back in action on Wednesday, returning to the Saint Mary's Gym for a 7 p.m. conference match against St. Olaf.