ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University volleyball team's final match ever against St. Thomas got off to a memorable start — to say the least.
 
Unfortunately for the Cardinals, the next three sets weren't quite as memorable.
 
Saint Mary's set a program record for points in a set, outlasting the Tommies 38-36 in the first set Wednesday evening, only to have St. Thomas rattle off three straight set wins in dealing the Cardinals a 3-1 setback at Schoenecker Arena.
 
After totaling 38 points in that record-setting first set, the Cardinals managed just 33 points in the next two sets, combined, in dropping 25-15 and 25-19 decisions to fall behind 2-1.
 
The fourth set was a see-saw affair from start to finish. But with the score deadlocked at 17-17, St. Thomas had the better finishing kick, outscoring Saint Mary's 8-3 to seal the win, 25-10.
 
Ciarra McNally (Lewiston, Minn.) recorded a career-high 19 kills and Linnaea Wallis (Dresser, Wis.) notched her seventh straight double-double with 19 kills and 10 digs to pace the Cardinals. Mandy Schmidt (Mitchell, S.D.) dished out 41 assists and added 10 digs for double-double No. 3 on the year, while DeJaye Baab (Wabasha, Minn.) delivered a team-leading 25 digs.
 
The Cardinals (5-3 overall) close out their fall-to-spring season on Friday, April 30, with a 5 p.m. match at St. Olaf.