WINONA, Minn. - The Hamline volleyball team (3-2, 2-2 MIAC) would win the first set over Saint Mary's (4-1, 4-0 MIAC) on Wednesday night, but would see the Cardinals take the next three to claim a 3-1 win on their home court.
 
Junior Sydney Larson reached a new career-high in the game, tallying 20 kills on 42 swings, hitting for a team-high .333 percentage. Larson added four blocks and nine digs to fill out her stat sheet.
 
Junior Brynn Hendrickson and sophomore Rachel Rettman would each help out the offense with nine kills apiece. First year Julianna Boyum matched Larson in blocks with four and junior Gabby Robinson led the team from the service line with three aces.
 
Defensively, sophomore Maggie Gavic paced the Pipers with a season-high 21 digs. Senior Megan Rubbelke was the only other Piper to end in double digits in digs with 11, collecting her third double-double performance of the year, adding 45 assists.
 
In the first set, Hamline hit for an impressive .531 percentage, as the majority of the set was incredibly close. A kill from junior Erin Leverington tied the game at 17 apiece, and the Pipers would close out the match strong, winning eight of the final 10 points to claim the 25-19 win.
 
In the second set, it was Saint Mary's who would win 25-19, hitting at an efficient .375 percentage. The Cardinals used a 7-0 run in the middle of the set to put them ahead 14-9. They would lead 18-11 a little while later, but HU would get the set back within three with four straight points. SMU was able to finish the set, however, tying the match up 1-1.
 
A 9-3 run for Saint Mary's in set three put them ahead 18-11, and they would go on to take the set by a score of 25-20. In the final set, SMU hit .278 compared to HU's .071, winning the set 25-18 to secure their fourth-straight win.
 
Saint Mary's was led by a 30-kill performance from senior Linnaea Wallis, who tallied over half of the team's kills in the match.
 
Hamline will play again next Tuesday (April 20) heading to Gustavus for a 7:00 p.m. match.