By DONNY NADEAU
Saint Mary's Sports Information Director
 
STEVENS POINT, Wis. — The Saint Mary's University of Minnesota volleyball team's perfect 4-0 run to start the season hit a speed bump Friday evening during the opening day of the UW-Stevens Point Invitational.
 
The Cardinals, coming off wins over Dominican, Augustana (Ill.), Edgewood, and Luther last weekend at the Ground Round Sugar Loaf Classic, could not match the firepower of host UW-Stevens Point, as the Pointers dealt Saint Mary's its first loss of the season, a 3-0 decision at UWSP's Berg Gym.
 
The Pointers appeared to be on cruise control through the first two sets, winning 25-17 and 25-14. But the Cardinals' offense came to life in the third set, battling UW-Stevens Point to a 24-24 stalemate, only to the Pointers win the next to points to seal the win, 26-24.
 
Brittney Flom (Kenyon, Minn.) recorded a team-high eight kills, one more than Brandi Blattner (Eyota, Minn.), while Rachel Kedl chipped in five kills. Lillian Braun (Mantorville, Minn.) dished out 26 assists and DeJaye Baab (Wabasha, Minn.) finished with a team-best 13 digs.
 
April Gehl and Tara Emme proved to be a lethal 1-2 combination for the Pointers, delivering 21 and 12 kills, respectively, while Ellie Adams posted 39 assists in the winning effort.
 
The Cardinals (4-1 overall) are back in action on Saturday, squaring off against Lakeland (noon) and Concordia-Wis. (2 p.m.) during the second day of the UW-Stevens Point Invitational.