Karina Rajtar
Copy Editor
The Saint Mary’s University volleyball team had a successful season this year, enjoying both team and personal accomplishments.
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The team advanced to the MIAC playoffs for the first time since the 2004 season, and players were recognized with all conference, all tournament team and All-MIAC sportsmanship team awards. Senior Theresa Perrini also completed a record-breaking collegiate career.
Finishing the regular season with a 5-6 conference record and a 19-13 record overall, the Cardinals found themselves in a three-way tie with Augsburg College and Carleton College for the sixth and final playoff spot in the twelve-team conference. They lost their final conference match against Gustavus Adolphus College and needed Augsburg to lose to the University of St. Thomas and Carleton to beat St. Olaf College. Things turned out just right for the Cardinals, and SMU was in the playoffs.
“We all just wanted to keep playing,” said sophomore Jessica Mate. “We didn’t want the season to end.”
The sixth seeded Cardinals upset the third-seeded Bennies of the College of Saint Benedict 3-2 before losing to second-seeded Gustavus 3-0. Of the Saint Benedict game, Perrini said, “It was like we won the championship.”
Mate added: “I couldn’t even breathe, that’s how intense it was.”
In addition to this year’s team success, individuals were awarded as well. Mate was named to the All-MIAC First Team; freshman Amy Kujak was named to the All-MIAC Tournament Team, the only freshman in the conference named to the six-player team; senior Carolyn Kiefer was named to the All-MIAC Sportsmanship team and Perrini finished both a record-breaking season and a record-breaking career. Perrini had 721 digs on the season and 2,192 career digs, putting her in the top five all-time in the MIAC.
Perrini is excited for what this season means for the future of the team and the teammates she will leave behind: “This year gave them confidence to know it can be done.”
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