By
DONNY NADEAU
Saint Mary's Sports Information Director
WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University volleyball team carried all the momentum heading into Saturday's Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference matchup against Concordia.
After all, the Cardinals entered the conference showdown on the heels of a thrilling, 3-1 upset of fifth-ranked Saint Benedict Friday evening, while the Cobbers were blanked 3-0 at St. Olaf Friday and had lost two straight and five of their last six.
Through the opening two sets, however, it appeared as if it was the Cobbers coming off the upset victory and the Cardinals who had dropped back-to-back matches.
And then the Cardinals returns to form.
After spotting the Cobbers a 2-0 lead — falling 25-23 in the first set and 25-15 in the second — the Cardinals regrouped — and showed off the form that knocked off the nation's fifth-ranked team less than 24 hours earlier.
Saint Mary's rolled to 25-14 and 25-18 wins in the third and fourth sets to pull even, and ran away with the fifth and decisive set — winning 15-5 to complete the come-from-behind, 3-2 victory at the Saint Mary's Gym.
Lillian Braun (Mantorville, Minn.) drove the offensive bus for the Cardinals, dishing out 65 assists — three helpers shy of her school record 68-assist effort against Hamline earlier this season — while also adding 15 digs for her fifth double-double of the season.
Linnaea Wallis (Dresser, Wis.) and
Lexi Barth (Byron, Minn.) were the main beneficiaries of Braun's deliveries, recording 18 and 17 kills, respectively, while
Erin Lime (Lino Lakes, Minn.) chipped in 14 and
Daynalyn Jostock (Millville, Minn.) added 12.
DeJaye Baab (Wabasha, Minn.) finished with a team-best 28 digs, and led a season-high five players with 10 or more digs — being joined by Barth (17), Braun (15),
Hannah Skroch (Prior Lake, Minn. / 15) and
Carley Cronen (Kandiyohi, Minn. / 12).
Bailey Gronner finished with 13 kills for the Cobbers, with Jill Klaphake dishing out 28 assists and Lexi Turn adding 13. Gabby DeBoer led four Cobbers in double figures with 24 digs.
The Cardinals (3-3 MIAC, 13-9 overall) close out the home portion of their schedule next Saturday, hosting St. Olaf in a 3 p.m. conference match at the Saint Mary's Gym. The Cobbers (2-3 MIAC, 5-15 overall) are also off until next Saturday, when they return home to Memorial Auditorium in Moorhead, Minn., for a 3 p.m. MIAC showdown against Augsburg.
