MILWAUKEE --- The University of St. Francis got the start it was looking for, but could not maintain that momentum in eventually dropping a 20-25, 25-17, 25-23, 25-20 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference decision to Cardinal Stritch University on Tuesday night.
 

The Saints (12-11, 9-8 CCAC) scored the final five points in Set 1 courtesy of kills from Peyton Baird (SO/Mendota, Ill.) and Lauren Stefanski (SR/Plainfield, Ill.) and an ace by Hannah Monfre (SO/Franklin, Wis.). That, however, did not carry over to Set 2.
 

In that set, Cardinal Stritch (11-6, 11-6) scored eight of the first 12 points and never led by less than three the rest of the way in gaining its biggest set win. USF also fell behind early in Set 3, but rallied to take a 20-17 advantage late. Not giving in, Cardinal Stritch responded with a closing 8-3 run capped by three straight kills from three separate Wolves.
 

In the final set, the hosts used an unanswered six-point run to go up 11-5. USF pulled to within 11-10 before the Wolves all but sealed St. Francis' fate with another 8-1 burst.
 

The Saints had a solid offensive attack with Taylor Valant (SR/St. Anne, Ill.) and Desiree Anderson (FR/Joliet, Ill.) both recording 14 kills. Valant also produced a .324 attack percentage.
 

Stefanski added another 11 kills with her .500 attack report. She also led the Saints with seven blocks (1 solo/6 assist).
 

Baird also stepped up with five blocks (1 solo/4 assist) as part of USF's overall 11-block night, while Monfre topped the team's charts in digs with 16.
 

Hannah Pacheco (SO/Lockport, Ill.) and Alexis Engst (JR/Bloomington, Ill.) each totaled 21 assists for USF.
 

Cardinal Stritch countered St. Francis' attack with three of its own players producing double-figure kill totals. Sydney Nienhaus and Sydney Hoffman each recorded a match-high 15 kills with Jordan Lloyd adding 11.
 

The Saints close out the home portion of their schedule on Thursday (April 1) when they host Lincoln College in a CCAC matchup beginning at 7 pm.