By DONNY NADEAU
Saint Mary's Sports Information Director
 
ST. PAUL, Minn. — There were plenty of streaks on the line when the Saint Mary's University of Minnesota volleyball team took the court against Northwestern.
 
Both the Cardinals and Eagles entered Friday's nonconference contest riding three match winning streaks, and when the teams split the first four sets, another streak was on the line — Saint Mary's perfect 5-0 record in five-set matches.
 
Unfortunately for Saint Mary's coach Jackie Kiecker, it was the Cardinals' streaks that came to a screeching halt, as Northwestern dealt SMU a 3-2 setback.
 
Saint Mary's got off to a strong start, winning the opening set 25-21, but the Eagles rallied with 25-18 and 25-13 wins to grab a 2-1 lead, but the Cardinals answered, winning set four 25-21 to force a fifth set — which Northwestern won 15-10.
 
Brandi Blattner (Eyota, Minn.) recorded her third 20-plus kill performance, notching 21 kills to pace the Cardinals. The senior also added 11 digs for her sixth double-double of the season, while Lillian Braun (Mantorville, Minn.) dished out 46 assists and tallied 14 digs for her team-leading ninth double-double of the year.
 
DeJaye Baab (Wabasha, Minn.) picked up a team-best 21 digs, two more than Hayley Weber (Gladbrook, Iowa) and Rachel Kedl (Lamberton, Minn.) served up two aces.
 
Mariah Halvorsen finished with a match-high 23 kills and Sydney Schwitters delivered 58 assists for Northwestern (18-5 overall).
 
The Cardinals (11-9 overall) return to action on Saturday, squaring off against UW-Oshkosh (11 a.m.) and UW-River Falls (1 p.m.) during Day 2 of the Northwestern Quadrangular.