WINONA, Minn. — The playoff scenarios favored the Saint Mary's University of Minnesota volleyball team heading into Saturday's regular-season finale against Gustavus.
 
After all, no matter how the Cardinals did against the 16^th-ranked Gusties, all they needed was for third-place Augsburg to beat Bethel, which entered the day tied with Saint Mary's for the sixth and final Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Playoff spot.
 
Unfortunately for the Cardinals, nothing went their way Saturday afternoon.
 
Gustavus never let the Cardinals get their offense jump-started, handing Saint Mary's a 3-0 setback, and the Royals did the unthinkable with a five-set marathon win over Augsburg to lock up the final play—and leave the Cardinals on the outside looking in.
 
Gustavus grabbed the upper hand early, and never took their foot off the gas in dealing Saint Mary's the 25-15, 25-18, 25-15 setback—and dashing the Cardinals' hopes of a fifth straight MIAC Playoff appearance.
 
Brandi Blattner (Eyota, Minn.) finished with a team-high 10 kills for the Cardinals, who hit just .103 in the three sets. Brittney Hanson (Janesville, Iowa) and Lillian Braun (Kasson, Minn.) delivered 13 and 10 assists, respectively, with Clare Tack (St. Charles, Ill.) picking up a team-high 18 digs, while Braun added 11 digs to her 10 assists for her 10^th double-double of the season.
 
Kate Holtan and Hanna Albers hammered out 14 and 13 kills, respectively, and Nora Holtan finished with 33 assists and 13 digs for the Gusties (8-3 MIAC, 23-5 overall).
 
With the loss, the Cardinals close out the year 6-5 in conference play, while going 15-13 overall.