(Ann Arbor, MI) The Cardinals continued their stretch of WHAC contests hosting Siena Heights Saturday night. The Saints and Cardinals squared off earlier this season with the Saints taking the game in four sets. The Cardinals came into Saturday's match fresh after having a WHAC bye on Friday. Siena Heights played on Friday and won a five set thriller against Lourdes. The Cardinals jumped on the Saints early winning the first set but the Saints slowly put away the Cardinals, 20-25, 25-23, 25-19, 25-20.
Delaney Bennett and Lena Thompson paced the Cardinals attack with each recording 15 kills. Kaitlin Veihl (JR/Muskegon, MI) led the team with 31 assists as Tara Schatzle anchored the defense with 21 digs.
1st Set – CUAA 25, Siena Heights 20
The two teams played even for the first part of the set with the score knotted at 10-10. The Cardinals began to pull away with the lead 16-13 forcing a Cardinals timeout. The Cardinals would not be slowed and won the first two point after the timeout thanks to a kill from Lindsey Luff (SO/Flushing, MI) and an ace by Denae Tolu (SR/Canton, MI). The Cardinal pressure would continue with the last three points for the Cardinals being recorded on kills from Gabrielle den Boer (JR/Canton, MI) and Bennett. Delaney Bennett (SR/Fruitport, MI) recorded 5 kills and Kaitlin Veihl (JR/Muskegon, MI) recorded 8 assists to lead the Cardinal offense in the first set.
2nd Set – CUAA 23, Siena Heights 25
The Saints and Cardinals continued to go point for point with neither team leading by more than three points. The Saints intensity level continued to increase with the score at 18-18. Three straight kills by the Saints increased the lead, 21-18 to force a Cardinals timeout. The Cardinals would claw back to within one point 22-21 on a kill by Lena Thompson. The Saints eventually held off the Cardinals 25-23 to even the match, 1-1. Delaney Bennett (SR/Fruitport, MI) and Lena Thompson (SR/Howard City, MI) combine for 18 kills to lead the Cardinal attack. Tara Schatzle (JR/Brooklyn, MI) Kaitlin Veihl (JR/Muskegon, MI) and Denae Tolu (SR/Canton, MI) combined for 29 digs for the Cardinal backline.
3rd Set – CUAA 19, Siena Heights 25
The Saints jumped out to a quick 4-0 looking to keep their momentum going. The Saints continued attacking and taking advantage of Cardinals miscues to increase the lead, 12-7. The Cardinals called a timeout to regroup and kill the Saints run. The Saints continued their attacking ways and led by as many as 21-14 to force another Cardinals timeout. The Cardinals responded with points by Kaitlin Viehl and Lena Thompson. Two more kills by Thompson gave the Cardinals 19 . Saints took set three 25-19 to go up 2-1.
4th Set – CUAA 20, Siena Heights 25
The Saints jumped out to a quick start in the fourth set leading 8-3 early in the frame. Two kills by Destine Moore brought the Cardinals to within four 10-6. The Cardinals were forced to call a timeout trailing 13-7. The Cardinals would not go away quietly using a kill by Viehl and consecutive aces by den Boer to force a Saints timeout, 18-14. Another kill by VIehl and ace by den Boer brought the Cardinals within two, 18-16. The Saints regained the momentum and eventually put away the Cardinals, 25-20 to take the match
The Cardinals will return to action on Wednesday night at 7pm as they go on the road to face Aquinas College.
