By DONNY NADEAU
Saint Mary's Sports Information Director
 
WINONA, Minn. — For the second day in a row, the Saint Mary's University volleyball team was extended to the maximum five sets in its opening match of the day.
 
After opening the Ground Round Sugar Loaf Classic with a 3-2 win over UW-Superior on Friday, the Cardinals found themselves going the distance in their first match of the tournament's second day.
 
Unfortunately for the Cardinals, this time around, the end result was not quite as favorable, as UW-River Falls rallied from a 2-0 deficit to beat Saint Mary's 3-2.
 
In their second match of the day, the Cardinals regained their winning form, cruising to a convincing 3-0 victory over Luther to close out the tournament with a 2-2 record.
 
After the first two sets against UW-River Falls, it appeared as if the Cardinals were setting themselves up for a 3-0 sweep, as SMU posted wins of 26-24 and 25-21.
 
UW-River Falls, however, had other ideas, as the Falcons rallied from that 2-0 deficit to win the final three sets — including a 15-8 decision in the final set — to grab the come-from-behind victory.
 
Lexi Barth (Byron, Minn.) led the Cardinals' offensive attack, recording 16 kills, while Linnaea Wallis (Dresser, Wis. / 14), Daynalyn Jostock (Millville, Minn. / 11), and Rachel Kedl (Lamberton, Minn. / 10) also finished in double figures.
 
Wallis also delivered a career-best 19 digs for her second double-double of the tournament, while Lillian Braun (Mantorville, Minn.) posted a 46-assist, 18-dig double-double of her own. DeJaye Baab (Wabasha, Minn.) led the team with 20 digs, and Carley Cronen (Kandiyohi, Minn.) chipped in 18 digs.
 
The Cardinals came out smoking against the Norse and never took their foot off the accelerator, winning the first two sets 25-22 and 25-9, before closing out their first sweep of the season with a 25-21 Set 3 victory.
 
Barth and Wallis led the offense with 10 kills each, while Braun dished out 33 assists and Baab posted 17 digs. Wallis chipped in 12 digs for her third double-double in four matches.
 
The Cardinals (2-2 overall) are back in action on Wednesday, hosting UW-Stout in a 7 p.m. nonconference match at the Saint Mary's Gym.