STORM LAKE, Iowa — With their Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opener looming just three days away, the Saint Mary's University volleyball team had one final nonconference "tune-up" match to gain a little momentum.
 
Which is exactly what the Cardinals gained Tuesday evening — some much-needed momentum.
 
But it took five sets and nearly two-and-half hours to achieve it.
 
Mired in a four-match losing streak, the Cardinals got back on the winning track — thanks to a career-high 18 kills from Brenna Bruchert (Eau Claire, Wis.) and a thrilling, 15-13 win in the fifth set — as Saint Mary's outlasted Buena Vista 3-2.
 
Saint Mary's struggled to find its rhythm early, dropping the opening set, 25-18, but the Cardinals were quickly singing a different tune, rattling off 25-20 and 25-23 wins to grab a 2-1 lead. SMU rallied from two set points down to knot the fourth set at 24-24, only to have the Beavers recorded back-to-back points for the 26-24 win — forcing a fifth and decisive set.
 
The Cardinals scored the first three points of the fifth set and never trailed — but never led by more than three — and found themselves deadlocked at 13-13 late in the set. But a kill by Ciarra McNally (Lewiston, Minn.) and an attack error by the Beavers gave Saint Mary's the streak-snapping victory — and that sought-after momentum heading into Friday's road showdown at No. 18 Gustavus.
 
Bruchert was one of four Cardinals to finish in double figures in kills, being joined by McNally (14), Kali Olson (New York Mills, Minn. / 12), and Jazzy Davis (La Crosse, Wis. / 10). Faith VanErp (Sartell, Minn.) delivered 47 assists, while Lindsey Rossow (Rochester, Minn.) led a quartet of SMU players in double figures in digs with 15. McNally and VanErp collected double-doubles — McNally added 14 digs to her 14 kills, while VanErp tallied 11 digs to go with her 47 assists — and Devann Clemens (Chatfield, Minn.) tallied 13 digs.
 
The Cardinals (7-7 overall) are back in action this weekend with a trio of matches. SMU will head to St. Peter, Minn., for a 7 p.m. conference showdown against nationally ranked Gustavus on Friday, before returning home to the Saint Mary's Gym for matches against Concordia (2 p.m.) and Central-Iowa (6 p.m.) on Saturday.
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