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WINONA, Minn. — It was smooth sailing for the Saint Mary's University volleyball team during the opening day of the two-day Ground Round Sugar Loaf Classic Friday.

The water was a bit more choppy on Saturday, however, as the Cardinals — coming off back-to-back 3-0 wins over Edgewood and Simpson on Friday — suffered their first loss of the season, falling to Nebraska-Wesleyan 3-1 at the Gostomski Fieldhouse.

The two teams traded lopsided wins in the first two matches, with the Cardinals winning Set 1, while the Prairie Wolves bounced back with a 25-16 victory in Set 2. The final two sets went right down to the wire, but it was Nebraska Wesleyan that pulled away late, winning the third set 25-20, then icing the win with a 25-22 triumph in the fourth and final set.

Molly Grover (Zumbrota, Minn.) racked up a career-best 20 kills and hit .462, while Lexi Assimos (Northbrook, Ill.) finished with 38 assists. Lex Krogstad (Chicago, Ill.) collected 20 digs, one more than Carissa Hahn (Hutchinson, Minn.). Cathy Rennie (Pine Island, Minn.) added 16 digs and three aces, with Tara Rasmussen (Kasson, Minn.) tallying 13 digs.

Katelyn Walsh recorded a match-high 22 kills and Alex Springman turned in 55 assists, as Nebraska Wesleyan closed out the tournament with a 3-1 record.

The Cardinals (2-1 overall) are back in action Saturday at 4 p.m., taking on Luther in the final match of the two-day tournament.