By DONNY NADEAU
Saint Mary's Sports Information Director
 
NORTHFIELD, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University of Minnesota volleyball team entered Friday's Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference match against Carleton a perfect 4-0 in five-set matches.
 
And the Cardinals exited West Gym still perfect in five-setters.
 
But it wasn't easy.
 
The Cardinals took leads of 1-0 and 2-1 in their conference showdown against Carleton, but needed a 19-17 win in set No. 5 to outlast the Knights 3-2.
 
Saint Mary's sandwiched 25-19 and 25-20 wins around a 25-15 loss in set 2 to take a 2-1 lead, but the Knights pulled even with a 25-19 victory in the fourth set — setting up a winner-take-all fifth and deciding set, which the Cardinals won, 19-17.
 
Rachel Kedl (Lamberton, Minn.) recorded a team-high 15 kills and hit .294, while Brandi Blattner (Eyota, Minn.) and Gloria Kitange (Rochester, Minn.) each added 12 kills and Blattner tallied 13 digs for her sixth double-double of the season.
 
Lillian Braun (Mantorville, Minn.) dished out 42 assists and added nine digs, while DeJaye Baab (Wabasha, Minn.) delivered 24 digs for the Cardinals.
 
Elye Wanseried and Faith Skinner each hammered out 15 kills and Inger Shelton recorded 43 assists in the losing effort for Carleton.
 
The Cardinals (2-3 MIAC, 10-8 overall) are back in MIAC play on Wednesday, heading to Macalester's Leonard Center in St. Paul, Minn., for a 7 p.m. showdown with the Scots.