INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The Saginaw Valley State University volleyball team came from two sets down to defeat Missouri S&T in their 2011 season opener, 3-2, at the University of Indianapolis Invitational on Friday (9/2). In game two, SVSU fell to No. 12-ranked Minnesota-Duluth in straight sets. Cardinals are now 1-1 on the season while the Miners fall to 1-1 overall while Minnesota-Duluth improves to 2-0.

The Cardinals started the season off rather slowly, dropping the first two sets, 25-22 and 25-20.  However, Saginaw Valley would rebound, winning the next two sets, 25-13 and 25-18 to force a deciding fifth set. SVSU would then close-out the match by taking the final set, 15-12.

Annie Buxton (Aurora, Ont./Aurora SS) led the Cardinal offense with a match-high 22 kills to go along with seven digs and two blocks. Katie Fitzgerald (Whitby, Ont./Sinclair SS) added twelve kills, eight blocks and six digs for the Cardinals.  Sam Breault (Bad Axe, Mich.) had a match-high 45 assists while Laura Ward (White Lake, Mich./Lakeland HS) had a team-high 21 digs. Becky Schroeder (Owosso, Mich./Northwood) had 11 kills including a .304 hitting percentage.

In the second match on Friday night, Saginaw Valley was unable to again forge a comeback and lost in straight sets to the University of Minnesota-Duluth, 25-21, 25-15 and 25-16.

Schroeder led the Cardinals with eight kills and two blocks along with a .263 hitting percentage. Buxton recorded seven kills and seven digs while Laura Ward had a team-high 13 digs. Sam Breault tallied a team-high 20 assists and seven digs.

The Cardinal Volleyball squad returns to action on Sunday, Sept. 4, when they resume play at the University of Indianapolis Tournament at noon against the No. 14-ranked University of Indianapolis. The Lady Cardinals are also scheduled to battle Northern Kentucky at 3 pm on Sunday in their final tournament match.