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Fast start not enough as Cardinals close out season with 3-1 loss
The Cardinals, aka The Hare, got out of the gates like they were shot out of a cannon, racing to a 30-26 win in the opening game of their final match of the season.
The Gusties, aka The Tortoise, however, used the slow, methodical approach en route to wins in Game 2 (30-21), Game 3 (30-26) and Game 4 (30-24), as Gustavus handed SMU a 3-1 setback at the SMU Gym.
"This match epitomized our season," said SMU coach Mike Lester, whose team closed out its season with a 3-8 MIAC mark and a 10-19 overall record. "We've played teams close all season — until we get to about 25-25. Then, for some reason or another, we just seem to fall apart and can't find a way to close the deal.
"Tonight, it was the same thing," continued Lester, noting that Game 3 was tied 23-23, before the Gusties went on a 7-3 run to close out the game and take a 2-1 advantage. "Once we dropped that third game, we just seemed to run out of gas."
Wednesday's game not only marked the end of the season for the Cardinals, but it also marked the end of a collegiate career for four SMU players.
And the quarter made sure to go out with a bang.
Molli Dant (Forest City, Iowa) — the team's single-season record holder in attack attempts (1246) — collected a team-best 19 kills and added 21 digs in her final collegiate match, while Jessica Voight (Caledonia, Minn.) posted a career-high 18 kills and recorded 18 digs. Not to be outdone, Kaylene Mrozinski (North St. Paul, Minn.) chipped in 10 digs and Ashley Karl (Auburndale, Wis.) collected 21 digs.
"I can't say enough about our four seniors," said Lester. "They have had to work so hard for everything they have accomplished, and that type of work ethic doesn't go unnoticed and it rubs off on the rest of the team.
"They have all left it all on the court for four years — and tonight was no different."
Despite the loss, SMU's fourth straight and sixth in its last eight matches, Lester still feels like the 2006 season was a success.
"When you look at this team — where we started in late August and where we finished tonight — we have come a long way," concluded Lester. "It's tough to end the season the way we did, but when you look past the wins and the losses, I'm very happy with the strides we've made."