ALBION, Mich. – Albion College was able to stave off two match points in the third set. It wasn't able to do the same in the fourth as Saint Mary's College walked out of Kresge Gymnasium with a 25-15, 25-20, 27-29, 25-14 victory in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association volleyball match.

Stephanie Thurner produced five of her eight kills in the third set. Kristin Yeager served an ace and Ami Milligan, Thurner and Lauren Outwater all knocked down kills as Albion jumped out to a 7-1 lead. Albion maintained a 20-13 lead on a Jessica Konieczny kill, but points came hard to come by from that point on. Saint Mary's rallied to forge a 22-22 tie and it served to win the match at 25-24 and 27-26. A serve error and an attack error prevented Saint Mary's from sweeping the match and a block by Konieczny and Outwater extended the match to a fourth set.

Albion never led in the fourth set. Thurner's ace brought Albion within a point at 4-3, but Saint Mary's went on to score the next three. Claire McMillan served aces on consecutive points as the Belles extended the match to 14-7.

Outwater was Albion's top hitter with nine kills and a .103 hitting percentage. Thurner finished with eight kills, two aces and a solo block.

Saint Mary's Katie Hecklinski led all players with 16 kills.

Albion will travel to Ohio for Friday and Saturday matches against Wooster, Oberlin and Wilmington.