EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — The Saint Mary's University of Minnesota volleyball team was good in Set 1 of their nonconference season-opener against UW-Eau Claire Tuesday evening.
 
They were even better in Set 2.
 
And after a brief stumble in the third set, the Cardinals returned to form in Set 4 in handing UW-Eau Claire a 3-1 nonconference setback at Zorn Arena.
 
"The conditions were very tough—very humid, which made it a bit treacherous out there," said Saint Mary's coach Mike Lester. "I thought defensively we played very well—Lex (Krogstad), Maddie (Hess) and Morgan (Thomas) all did a great job. And I thought we served extremely well, forcing (Eau Claire) out of system a lot.
 
"It was a good start, but we've still got a lot of work ahead of us."
 
The Cardinals opened with a 25-21 win in the first set, before breezing to a 25-13 Set 2 victory. UW-Eau Claire turned the tables with a 25-22 win in Set 3, but Saint Mary's regrouped to ice the win with a 25-20 victory in the fourth set.
 
Macki Fadness (Eau Claire, Wis.) and Cassidy Bittle (Winona, Minn.) each picked up 13 kills and boasted .429 attack percentages to pace the Cardinals, while Tayler MacVey (Dodge Center, Minn.) dished out 13 assists, and Jenna Sullivan (Woodbury, Minn.) and Krogstad collected 10 and nine digs, respectively.
 
The Cardinals (1-0 overall) are back in action this weekend, taking part in the Ground Round Sugar Loaf Classic at Gostomski Fieldhouse. Saint Mary's will face UW-La Crosse and Wisconsin Lutheran on Friday, before facing UW-Stevens Point and Luther on Saturday.