RIPON, Wis. — The Saint Mary's volleyball team closes out their weekend in Ripon with a split on day two The Cardinals (3-1) was defeated in four sets by an undefeated Aurora team (5-0) and swept Martin Luther (2-4).
SMU 1, AU 3
Kali Olson emerged as a standout player with 14 kills and six total blocks. The Cardinals defense was anchored by Lindsey Rossow, who contributed significantly with 20 digs, reinforcing the back line's resilience.
Brenna Bruchert was another vital player for the Cardinals, registering 11 kills and added 10 digs. Her effort culminated in 13.0 points, showcasing her dual threat in both offense and defense. Devann Clemens facilitated the Cardinals attack with 18 assists, illustrating her playmaking ability, while also recording two block assists.
In the first set, the Cardinals and the Spartans exchanged points early, with neither team pulling ahead significantly. Midway through the set, Bruchert delivered a series of kills for the Cardinals, keeping the score close. However, Aurora capitalized on several errors by the Cardinals leading to a 25-19 first-set victory for Aurora.
Early in the second set, the Spartans built a 10-6 lead. Grace King and Ayla Olson responded for the Cardinals, keeping the score close. As the set progressed, Aurora extended their lead to 16-11, prompting a push from the Cardinals, which closed the gap to 17-18. Despite the Cardinals efforts, including kills by Bruchert and Maddie Baker, Aurora capitalized on errors and maintained their lead.
A. Olson's kill opened the third set, putting the Cardinals ahead at 3-2. Rossow's service ace extended the lead to 4-2, and the Cardinals maintained their advantage with a series of successful plays, including three consecutive kills from K. Olson, assisted by Clemens, to make it 10-7. Aurora attempted a comeback with kills, but the Cardinals held strong, with King securing a crucial point at 21-17. Despite a brief rally by Aurora, which included a service ace by Samantha Torres, the Cardinals clinched the set at 25-21 with a final kill by Kinlee Grattan.
In the fourth set, the Cardinals started strong with a 4-1 lead, highlighted by a service ace from Rossow at 1-1. The Cardinals maintained a lead until late in the set when Aurora closed the gap from 22-17, eventually tying the score at 24-24 with a critical kill by Torres. Aurora completed the comeback with a service ace by Trinity Nelson, winning the set 26-24.
SMU 3, MLC 0
To close out the final game of the weekend, Rossow finished with 18 digs to surpass 1,000 career digs! Bruchert led the offense for the Cardinals with 14 kills and a team-high 15.5 points, adding one service ace. K. Olson contributed significantly with 12 kills on 21 attempts, achieving a .476 hitting percentage, and led the team with 16 points, including three service aces.
In the first set between Saint Mary's and Martin Luther, the Knights began with a strong start, taking a 6-1 lead with help from two service aces. The Cardinals responded with a series of kills, including two by K. Olson and two by Bruchert, leveling the score at 11-11. The Cardinals then built momentum with a 5-1 run, highlighted by A. Olson's kill to go up 21-17. Martin Luther rallied to tie it 24-24, helped by a service ace, but the Cardinals closed out the set with two consecutive attack errors, securing a thriling 27-25 win.
The Cardinals claimed a 25-13 victory in the second set, showcasing a series of strategic plays and scoring runs. Martin Luther initially took a 2-0 lead, but the Cardinals quickly answered with a scoring streak, fueled by Bruchert's kill and Rossow's service ace, to move ahead 4-2. Midway through, the Cardinals extended their lead with consecutive service aces by K. Olson, stretching their advantage to 11-5. The Knights managed a brief comeback with a series of points, narrowing the gap to 11-10, but the Cardinals responded decisively. Highlighted by back-to-back kills from A. Olson and a significant 7-0 run to close the set, the Cardinals secured the set with a commanding performance.
In the final set, the Cardinals gained an initial advantage with key kills from A. Olson, contributing to a 5-4 lead early on. The team extended their lead to 9-6 following consecutive points, including a kill by King and a block error by Martin Luther. The Cardinals held a steady advantage, with Bruchert securing crucial kills to maintain their lead at 18-12. Despite a brief comeback attempt by the Knights, the Cardinals closed the set at 25-20 with A. Olson's decisive kill, securing the victory.
The Cardinals have put themselves in a great spot to open the 2025 season. They look forward to hosting the annual Sugar Loaf Tournament sponsored by Toppers on September 5th and 6th with the first game being against Wheaton on Friday night at 7:00 p.m. in David R. Thies Arena.
