WINONA, Minn. — It took a little longer than the Saint Mary's University of Minnesota volleyball team had hoped, but the Cardinals finally gave Jackie Kiecker her first collegiate coaching victory Friday evening.
 
The Cardinals, smarting from a 3-0, season-opening loss to UM-Morris earlier in the day, took out their frustrations on UW-Stout, as Saint Mary's blew past the Blue Devils 3-0 in their final match of the opening day of the Ground Round Sugar Loaf Classic at the Gostomski Fieldhouse.
 
Saint Mary's never gave the Blue Devils a chance, rolling to a 25-15 win in the opening set, before closing out the 3-0 sweep with a 25-19 win in Set 2, and a 25-18 victory in the third and final set.
 
Brandi Blattner (Eyota, Minn.) led a balanced offensive attack for the Cardinals, collecting 11 kills and 12 digs for her first double-double of the season. Lillian Braun (Kasson, Minn.) and Brittney Hanson (Janesville, Iowa) dished out 17 and 16 assists, respectively, with Clare Tack (St. Charles, Ill.) adding a team-best 14 digs.
 
Kennedy Strain finished with 10 kills and Jessica DuVal recorded 23 assists to pace the Blue Devils (0-2 overall).
 
The Cardinals (1-1 overall) closed out the two-day Ground Round Sugar Loaf Classic on Saturday, squaring off against Carthage (noon) and Central-Iowa (4 p.m.) at the Gostomski Fieldhouse.