By DONNY NADEAU
Saint Mary's Sports Information Director
 
ARDEN HILLS, Minn. — Saint Mary's University of Minnesota volleyball coach Jackie Kiecker was hoping for a quick start in Wednesday's Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opener against Bethel.
 
And a quick start is exactly what the Cardinal head coach got.
 
Unfortunately, it was the Royals who were off and running, as Bethel scored 11 of the match's first 13 points and never looked back, sweeping past the Cardinals 3-0 at Robertson Center.
 
Bethel took advantage of that 11-2 start to grab a convincing 25-15 win in the opening set. BU held off a late Saint Mary's charge to take a 2-0 lead with a 25-22 victory in Set 2, before completing the sweep with a 25-17 win in the third set.
 
Brandi Blattner (Eyota, Minn.) led the way for the Cardinal offense, recording 11 kills and adding 14 digs for her fourth double-double of the season. Lillian Braun (Mantorville, Minn.) equaled Blattner's double-double effort with 31 assists and 10 digs, while DeJaye Baab (Wabasha, Minn.) delivered a team-best 16 digs and Hayley Weber (Gladbrook, Iowa) chipped in 10.
 
Tina Hoppe posted a match-high 15 kills, five more than teammate Maria Claflin, with Hannah Wilhite dishing out 40 assists and Rylee Forshee finishing with a team-leading 18 digs.
 
The Cardinals (0-1 MIAC, 6-2 overall) head to Kenosha, Wis., this weekend to take part in the Carthage Tournament. Saint Mary's will face the University of Chicago and Concordia (Wis.) on Friday, before taking on Milwaukee School of Engineering and host Carthage on Saturday.