WINONA, Minn. — It may have been their first match of the season, but you never would have known it by watching the Saint Mary's University of Minnesota volleyball team Friday afternoon against the University of Dubuque.
 
The Cardinals in general — and Alex Peterson (Harmony, Minn.) in particular — were in mid-season form against the Spartans, as Peterson banged out a match-high 11 kills in leading Saint Mary's to a 3-0 (25-18, 25-14, 25-18) victory during the opening day of the two-day Ground Round Sugar Loaf Classic.
 
Peterson, a First-Team All-Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference selection a year ago, hit .345 against the Spartans, while Mary Nordick (Plymouth, Minn.) chipped in nine kills and a .500 attack percentage. Tayler MacVey (Dodge Center, Minn.) dished out 21 assists and Lex Krogstad (Chicago, Ill.) posted a team-best 14 digs in the winning effort.
 
Klaudia Basierak tallied 10 kills and Hannah Zieser finished with a team-leading 23 assists in the losing effort for the University of Dubuque (0-1 overall).
 
The Cardinals (1-0 overall) are back in action at 6 p.m. Friday, squaring off against North Park in the second of their four Ground Round Sugar Loaf Classic matches this weekend.