WINONA, Minn. — Nobody said it would be easy.
 
And it wasn't.
 
But the end result suited Saint Mary's University of Minnesota volleyball coach Mike Lester just fine.
 
The Cardinals found themselves playing catch-up in both the third and fourth sets Wednesday evening in their Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference match against Carleton at the Saint Mary's Gym.
 
And in both sets, Saint Mary's not only caught up—but surpassed—the Knights en route to a 3-1 victory.
 
A victory that not only improved the Cardinals to 7-3 in conference play—but also clinched an MIAC Playoff berth for a fourth consecutive year.
 
Saint Mary's made things look easy in the opening set, scoring 12 of the final 13 points to turn a 13-10 lead into a 25-11 victory. Carleton turned the tables in the second set, using a 5-2 set-ending run to post a 25-23 victory—and even the match at 1-1.
 
The Knights looked to be in control again in the third set, leading 19-16. But four straight Saint Mary's points gave the Cardinals the momentum they needed to carry them to a 25-23 victory. It was yet another late-set run that secured the Set 4 victory­—and the playoff berth—as Saint Mary's rode an 11-6 burst to a 25-20 match-clinching win.
 
Brandi Blattner (Eyota, Minn.) gave the Knights a first-hand look at why she is the reigning MIAC Hitter of the Week, as the sophomore—who set a program record with 31 kills against Bethel last Friday—delivered 28 kills and added eight digs. Sara Lind (Peterson, Minn.) chipped in 11 kills and hit a team-best .333, while Brittney Hanson (Janesville, Iowa) and Lillian Braun (Mantorville, Minn.) delivered 29 and 22 assists, respectively. Morgan Thomas (Palos Park, Ill.) led the team with 19 digs and a pair of aces.
 
Lucy Stevens finished with 13 kills and Caroline Duke posted 21 assists in the losing effort for Carleton.
 
The Cardinals (7-3 MIAC, 23-4 overall) close out their regular-season schedule on Saturday, hosting Gustavus in a 3 p.m. MIAC match at the Saint Mary's Gym. Saturday's match will also be the final regular-season home match for Cardinal seniors Thomas, Molly Urban (Roseville, Minn.), and Maddie Hess (Lewiston, Minn.).