By
DONNY NADEAU
Saint Mary's Sports Information Director
WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University of Minnesota volleyball team — thanks in part to Friday's thrilling 3-2 win over Hamline — entered its showdown against St. Thomas Saturday in the thick of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Playoff chase.
The Tommies, however, blocked the Cardinals' playoff path — literally.
St. Thomas, fueled by 10 blocks — and a match-high 15 kills from Madie Kroehler — dealt the Cardinals a 3-0 setback at the Saint Mary's Gym. The loss dropped the Cardinals to 4-5 in conference play and leaves them one game back of the sixth and final MIAC Playoff spot with two matches to play.
St. Thomas came out firing on all cylinders, racing out to a 25-19 win in the first set, and the Tommies never took their foot off the accelerator, winning 25-14 in Set 2 and 25-15 in the third and final set.
Brandi Blattner (Eyota, Minn.) — who posted her fourth 20-plus kill effort with 21 kills against Hamline on Friday — led the Cardinal offense with 11 kills.
Lillian Braun (Mantorville, Minn.), fresh off a school record-setting 68-assist performance against the Pipers, dished out 27 helpers against UST, while
DeJaye Baab (Wabasha, Minn.) and
Hayley Weber (Gladbrook, Iowa) chipped in 18 and 10 digs, respectively.
Along with Kroehler's 15 kills, the Tommies also got 34 assists from Katharine Mallak and 25 digs from Meghan Mazzola.
Saint Mary's (4-5 MIAC, 13-12 overall) are back on their home court at the Saint Mary's Gym on Wednesday, hosting St. Olaf in a 7 p.m. conference matchup. The Cardinals then close out the regular season with a 7 p.m. home showdown with league-leading Gustavus on Friday.
