GRINNELL, Iowa — The Saint Mary's University volleyball team could not have scripted a better start to the 2022 season, getting 13 kills and 10 digs from Ciarra McNally (Lewiston, Minn.) and 19 digs from Peyton Berg (Chatfield, Minn.) in beating Marian 3-0 — and giving Amber Zitzow her first win as the Cardinals' head coach in their very first match.
 
Saint Mary's second match of the opening day at the Grinnell/Central Invitational was anything but a three-set cakewalk — and ended in heartbreaking fashion — as host Grinnell outlasted the Cardinals, winning the fifth and final set 16-14 in dealing SMU a 3-2 setback.
 
Saint Mary's dominated from start-to-finish against Marian in their opening match, outlasting the Sabres 25-23 in the first set, before taking control with wins of 25-19 and 25-22 to seal the three-set victory.
 
Along with McNally's double-double, Saint Mary's also got nine kills from Brayden Ruetten (Holmen, Wis.) and nine assists from Larkin Clem (Elk River, Minn.).
 
Saint Mary's second match of the evening proved to be a real marathon, as the Cardinals rallied from a set down twice to force the fifth and final set. Grinnell posted 25-22 wins in both the first and third sets, while the Cardinals won Set 2, 25-17 and Set 3, 25-21.
 
Unfortunately, the fifth set did not go SMU's way, as Grinnell recorded back-to-back points to break away from a 14-14 deadlock and lead the Pioneers to the match-clinching, 16-14 victory.
 
McNally was at it again against the Pioneers, hammering out 28 kills — four shy o her program-record 32 — and adding 17 digs for her second straight double-double of the season. Brenna Bruchert (Eau Claire, Wis.) chipped in a career-high 10 kills, while Schmidt and Clem delivered 24 and 21 assists, respectively. Berg recorded a career-best 25 digs, with Hannah Herrem (Fall Creek, Wis.) chipping in 10.
 
The Cardinals will close out the two-day tournament on Saturday in Grinnell, Iowa, facing Bethany Lutheran at 1 p.m. and Buena Vista at 3 p.m.