SAINT PAUL, MINN.--The Hamline University women's volleyball team defeated Saint Mary's (Minn.) 3-2 (23-25, 26-24, 22-25, 25-22, 15-12) on Saturday at Hutton Arena. The victory snapped a seven-match losing skid for the Pipers.

Hamline improves to 9-17, 2-8 MIAC, while Saint Mary's falls to 9-18, 0-9 MIAC.

Hamline 3, Saint Mary's (Minn.) 2 (23-25, 26-24, 22-25, 25-22, 15-12)

Saint Mary's edged out the Pipers 25-23 in a closely contested first set. Kali Olson and Brenna Bruchert led the Cardinals attack with Olson securing multiple kills, including the set-winning point, while Bruchert contributed with several kills and a service ace. Hamline stayed competitive, highlighted by Jenna Rubbelke and Kennedy Tutak's offensive efforts, but ultimately fell short due to critical service errors and a strong finish from the Cardinals.

Hamline managed a comeback victory over Saint Mary's with a final score of 26-24 in the second frame. The Cardinals initially led with a strong performance, including two service aces and a kill by Lindsey Rossow, helping to build an early 5-0 advantage. However, the Pipers rallied back with key contributions from Riley Melby, who recorded multiple kills in the final stretch, and Cameryn Sand, who delivered crucial service aces to secure the win.

In the third set, Saint Mary's defeated Hamline with a score of 25-22. Kali Olson was instrumental for the Cardinals, tallying multiple kills and a service ace. The Pipers' performance included service aces from Jenna Rubbelke and Shannon Graham, but attack errors hindered their efforts, as the Cardinals capitalized on these mistakes to secure the set.

In the fourth set, Hamline secured a 25-22 victory, capitalizing on multiple attack errors by Saint Mary's. Key contributions came from Grace Bathurst with multiple kills, and the team benefited from several service aces. The Cardinals struggled with attack errors, notably from Brenna Bruchert, while Kali Olson managed to produce some successful kills.

The Pipers secured a 15-12 victory in the fifth frame. Hamline's Grace Bathurst delivered a strong performance with three consecutive kills, contributing significantly to their comeback from a tied score at 12-12. The Cardinals had a notable start with Lindsey Rossow scoring an early service ace, but the Pipers' strategic plays, including a service ace and a series of kills, helped them overcome the visitor's initial lead.

Jenna Rubbelke has been effective in serve with four service aces and demonstrated solid defensive skills with 20 digs. Kennedy Tutak led the team in points with 18.5, bolstered by her 15 kills and strong blocking presence with four total blocks. Kayli Starkey was a key facilitator for the team, amassing 31 assists, which is the highest on the team. Grace Bathurst matched Tutak in kills with 15, adding to her total of 17 points. Mandy Dierks contributed significantly to the defensive effort, leading the team with 22 digs. These players have been instrumental in Hamline's performance on the court.

Kali Olson lead Saint Mary's with 26.5 points, showcasing her offensive prowess with 22 kills and a hitting percentage of .319, complemented by her defensive contributions with four total blocks.

The Pipers will host UW-Stout in their final home match of 2024 on Wednesday, November 6 at 7 p.m.