RIPON, Wis. — The Saint Mary's University of Minnesota volleyball team took the court Saturday with its sights set on a third consecutive perfect tournament run this season—not to mention extending a pair of lengthy streaks.
 
The Cardinals—who already owned 4-0 tournament records at the Ground Round Sugar Loaf Classic and the St. Catherine Invitational—entered Saturday's second day of the Ripon Red Hawks Invitational having already dispatched of Alverno and the University of Dubuque.
 
Wins over Lawrence and host Ripon would give the Cardinals tournament sweep No. 3.
 
And their first nine-match winning streak since 2003.
 
And their best start to the season since 1990.
 
Mission(s) accomplished.
 
The Cardinals kicked off Saturday's action with a 3-1 win over Lawrence, and completed their perfect tourney appearance with a second-straight 3-1 victory, this one over Ripon. In both matches, Saint Mary's dropped the third set of the match, beating Lawrence 25-22, 25-15, 26-28, and 25-12, while topping the Red Hawks 25-17,  25-19, 20-25, and 25-23.
 
Brandi Blattner (Eyota, Minn.) and Sara Lind (Peterson, Minn.) led the way for the Cardinals against Lawrence, collecting 16 and 11 kills, respectively. Brittney Hanson (Janesville, Iowa) recorded a double-double of 24 assists and 16 digs, while Blattner completed her double-double with 15 digs to go with her 16 kills. Morgan Thomas (Palos Park, Ill.) delivered a team-best 28 digs, with Clare Tack (St. Charles, Ill.) adding 13 and Lillian Braun (Mantorville, Minn.) finishing with 10. Braun joined Blattner and Hanson in the double-double category, posting 18 assists to go with her 10 digs.
 
Blattner led the Cardinals' offense for a second straight match against Ripon, hammering out 17 kills, while Lexi Barth (Byron, Minn.) chipped in 14. Hanson and Braun led the way in the assist category with 23 and 18, respectively, with Thomas pacing four players in double figures with 17 digs. Blattner and Braun put together their second double-doubles of the afternoon, with Blattner adding 11 digs to her 17 kills, and Braun finishing with 10 digs to go along with her 18 assists.
 
The Cardinals (13-1 overall) will put their nine-match winning streak on the line on Wednesday, when they host Hamline in a 7 p.m. Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference match at the Saint Mary's Gym.