MOORHEAD, Minn. — After what seemed like an eternity, the Saint Mary's University volleyball team finally got its season underway Saturday afternoon.
 
And while the day didn't start quite the way coach Jackie Kiecker and the Cardinals had opened, it certainly ended on a positive note.
 
After dropping a 3-0 decision to Augsburg in their first match of the day at Concordia's Memorial Auditorium, the Cardinals rebounded with an impressive 3-1 win over the host Cobbers in their second contest of the afternoon.
 
Augsburg — coming off an NCAA national tournament appearance a year ago — took control from the opening serve, opening with a 25-19 win in the opener set. And the Auggies just got more dominant from there, completing the sweep with 25-18 and 25-15 victories.
 
Ciarra McNally (Lewiston, Minn.) — making her collegiate debut — led the Cardinals with eight kills against the Auggies, with Coral Anderson (Rogers, Minn.) and Linnaea Wallis (Dresser, Wis.) chipping in seven and six kills, respectively. Mandy Schmidt (Mitchell, S.D.) dished out 14 assists, five more than Larkin Clem (Elk River, Minn.), and Wallis was the team's dig leader with 12.
 
The Cardinals appeared to be in complete control against Concordia, taking Set 1, 25-21, and rattling off 15 of the final 22 points to win the second set, 25-15, for a 2-0 lead. Concordia, however, cut the deficit to 2-1 with a 25-21 win to force a fourth set — a set Saint Mary's dominated, scoring 14 of the first 20 points and rolling to a match-clinching 25-15 triumph.
 
As good as McNally was in her collegiate debut, she was even more impressive in match No. 2, recording a team-high 17 kills and hitting a team-best .353. Wallis chipped in her first double-double of the season with 12 kills and 16 digs, while Anderson and Erin Lime (Lino Lakes, Minn.) each delivered 10 kills. DeJaye Baab (Wabasha, Minn.) posted 30 digs, and Schmidt dished out 32 assists.
 
The Cardinals (1-1 overall) are back in action on Wednesday, heading to St. Catherine's Butler Center Gym in St. Paul, Minn., for a 7 p.m. MIAC matchup against the Wildcats.