WINONA, Minn. — Four days ago, the Saint Mary's University of Minnesota volleyball team squared off against a nationally ranked opponent when they took the court against eighth-ranked Washington (Mo.) University in the opening match of the UW-Oshkosh Tournament.
 
The Cardinals bent, but did not break, dealing the Bears a 3-2 setback—and avenged the teams' last meeting, a 3-1 WashU victory in the 2009 NCAA Central Regional in the process.
 
Fast-forward to Tuesday evening.
 
Saint Mary's was once again staring across the net at an opponent earning national attention—not to mention a foe that ousted the Cardinals from the 2016 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Playoffs.
 
And the Cardinals once again found themselves bending—but not breaking—as they dealt the Royals a 3-2 setback in the teams' conference opener at the Saint Mary's Gym.
 
The Royals—who received votes in the latest AVCA Poll—jumped out to a quick start with a 25-20 win in the opening set, but Saint Mary's responding, taking Sets 2 and 3 (25-13 and 25-23), only to have BU pull even with a 25-20 victory in the fourth set.
 
Bethel appeared to have the upper hand in the fifth and decisive set, leading 12-10, only to have the Cardinals rattle off three straight points to take the lead for good en route to a 15-13 victory.
 
Saint Mary's boasted a balanced attack against the Royals, posting four players in double figures in kills—led by Brandi Blattner (Eyota, Minn.) with 15. Gloria Kitange (Rochester, Minn.) chipped in 13 kills, and Lexi Barth (Byron, Minn.) and Linnaea Wallis (Dresser, Wis.) chipped in 10 kills each.
 
Lillian Braun (Kasson, Minn.) dished out 27 assists and added a team-high 20 digs en route to her fourth double-double of the season, while Brittney Hanson (Janesville, Iowa) finished with 20 assists. Blattner equaled Braun's double-double effort, adding 15 digs to her team-high 15 kills, with Clare Tack (St. Charles, Ill.) chipping in 17 digs.
 
Brooke Olstad finished with a team-high 14 kills and Bailey Israelson collected 24 assists in the losing effort for Bethel (0-1 MIAC, 7-2 overall).
 
The Cardinals (1-0 MIAC, 7-3 overall) head to Ripon, Wis., this weekend, taking part in the two-day Ripon Red Hawk Invitational.