By DONNY NADEAU
Saint Mary's Sports Information Director
 
KENOSHA, Wis. — After struggling to get on track in dropping their Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opener on Wednesday, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota volleyball coach Jackie Kiecker was hoping for a better start on Friday in their opening match of the Carthage Tournament.
 
The University of Chicago, however, had other ideas.
 
The Maroons — who entered the tournament riding a season-opening nine-match winning streak — made the Cardinals victim No. 10, dealing Saint Mary's a 3-0 setback.
 
And, unfortunately for the Cardinals, the second match of the day did not go any better for the Cardinals — who opened with a 25-23 win over Concordia (Wis.) only to drop three straight sets in falling to the Falcons 3-1.
 
Chicago dominated the opening two sets, winning 25-17 and 25-19, before having to hold off a furious Saint Mary's charge in Set 3, winning 27-25.
 
Saint Mary's opened its second match of the day with a 25-23 win over the Falcons, but Concordia (Wis.) answered with three straight wins, beating the Cardinals 25-21, 26-24, and 25-19 to secure the win.
 
Brandi Blattner (Eyota, Minn.) delivered 12 kills and Rachel Kedl (Lamberton, Minn.) chipped in 11 kills and a team-best .450 attack percentage. Lillian Braun (Mantorville, Minn.) finished with 30 assists and DeJaye Baab (Wabasha, Minn.) posted a team-leading 16 digs.
 
Blattner and Braun each picked up their team-leading fourth double-double of the season against Concordia (Wis.), with Blattner collecting 16 kills and 11 digs, while Braun added 35 assists and 12 digs. Baab chipped in a team-best 20 digs and Hayley Webber (Gladbrook, Iowa) chipped in 15 digs.
 
The Cardinals (6-4 overall) are back in action on Saturday, squaring off against Milwaukee School of Engineering and host Carthage in the second day of the two-day Carthage Tournament.