By DONNY NADEAU
Saint Mary's Sports Information Director
 
WINONA, Minn. — After opening their Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference match against Hamline with a convincing 25-15 win in the opening set, it appeared as if the Saint Mary's University of Minnesota volleyball team would have an easy time posting a victory Friday evening.
 
The Cardinals did post the conference victory — but there wasn't anything easy about it.
 
Saint Mary's needed a 15-10 win in a fifth and decisive set — and a record-setting performance from setter Lillian Braun (Mantorville, Minn.) — to beat the Pipers 3-2 at the Saint Mary's Gym.
 
Braun certainly did her part to aid in the Cardinals win, as the junior setter proved to be in a very giving mood — dishing out a single-match school record 68 assists in helping Saint Mary's improve to 6-1 in five-set matches.
 
After Saint Mary's 25-15 opening set win, the Pipers turned the tables, beating the Cardinals 25-19 in the second set to pull even, 1-1. The Cardinals regained the lead, 2-1, with a 25-22 win in set No. 3, but again the Pipers answered, securing their second straight 25-19 win to force a fifth set — a set in which the Cardinals pulled away late en route to the 15-10 victory.
 
Braun, whose previous career-best was 63 assists early this season, tied the single-season school mark of 65 on the Cardinals' 12^th point of the fifth set, then added assists on Saint Mary's final three points to complete her school-record effort.
 
Braun had plenty of weapons to turn to, as the Cardinals boasted a season-high five players who recorded 10 or more kills — led by Brandi Blattner (Eyota, Minn.) with 21. Linnaea Wallis (Dresser, Wis.) and Rachel Kedl (Lamberton, Minn.) each chipped in 15 kills, with Gloria Kitange (Rochester, Minn.) and Brittney Flom (Kenyon, Minn.) each adding 11.
 
DeJaye Baab (Wabasha, Minn.) delivered a match-high 25 digs, while both Braun and Blattner completed double-doubles with 12 and 13 digs, respectively.
 
Madi Hurrle finished with 17 kills and Gabby Robinson and Sydney Larson each added 14 for the Pipers, who also got 47 assists and 12 digs from Megan Rubbelke.
 
The Cardinals (4-4 MIAC, 13-11 overall) —who are currently sitting in a three-way tie with St. Olaf and Concordia for the sixth and final MIAC Playoff spot with three conference matches remaining — are right back in action on Saturday, squaring off against St. Thomas in a 3 p.m. conference match at the Saint Mary's Gym.