By DONNY NADEAU
Saint Mary's Sports Information Director
 
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University volleyball team found itself in an all-too-familiar position Wednesday evening — playing the role of David against yet another nationally ranked Goliath.
 
The Cardinals — having already slayed then-No. 5 Saint Benedict and then-No. 23 St. Olaf in the last 11 days — were back in character on Wednesday, squaring off against 13th-ranked Augsburg Wednesday at Si Melby Hall.
 
Unfortunately, this time around, the Cardinals' slingshot didn't have enough firepower to slay the Auggies.
 
Saint Mary's jumped out to a 1-0 lead with a 25-21 victory in the opening set, but could not maintain that momentum, as Augsburg rattled off three straight set victories — including rallying from a 24-17 deficit in the fourth set to win 27-25 — in dealing the Cardinals a 3-1 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference setback.
 
Lillian Braun (Mantorville, Minn.) led the Cardinal offense, picking up her team-leading sixth double-double with a 42-assist, 12-dig effort. Rachel Kedl (Lamberton, Minn.) and Linnaea Wallis each posted 10 kills, while DeJaye Baab (Wabasha, Minn.) delivered 14 digs and Carley Cronen (Kandiyohi, Minn.) chipped in 10.
 
The Cardinals (4-4 MIAC, 14-10 overall) — who had their three-match winning streak snapped with the loss — are back on the road this weekend, heading to St. Paul, Minn., for a pair of matches. Saint Mary's will square off against Northwestern in a 7 p.m. nonconference tilt on Friday, before heading to St. Catherine for a 3 p.m. MIAC matchup against the Wildcats on Saturday. The Auggies (6-2 MIAC, 19-4 overall) have a pair of matches this weekend, hosting Bethany Lutheran in a 7 p.m. nonconference contest at Si Melby Hall in Minneapolis, Minn., on Friday, before returning to conference play with a 3 p.m. matchup against Bethel in Arden Hills, Minn., the following day.