DENVER, Colo. – In the most difficult day in recent years, the Cardinals came up short Saturday and had their long win streak ended. The Wheeling Jesuit volleyball team played its fourth and fifth nationally-ranked team and came up short against both No. 1 Concordia-St. Paul and No. 19 Angelo State in the 20^th Annual Colorado Premier Challenge final day.
 
After leading the entire first set, No. 2 WJU saw the nation's top team show its mettle in the final points to take the first set, 25-23, before Concordia-St. Paul followed with two more set wins (25-13 and 25-18). The Cardinals grabbed the first set in the 3^rd Place Match (25-21), but the Belles rallied for the next three sets (25-21, 25-23 and 25-19).
 
Vs. No. 1 Concordia St. Paul – L, 0-3 (23-25, 13-25, 18-25)
 
In a match that showed so much promise, it took a late first-set run and the momentum turned for good. The Cardinals led 21-15, but the No. 1 Bears ran off a set-ending 10-2 run and came back for a 25-23.
 
WJU was unable to regain the control of the match after it faltered at the end of the opening set. Concordia St. Paul hit .400 over each of next two sets for its straight-sets win.
 
The Wheeling Jesuit loss snapped its 18-match win streak dating back to last November 11 at Findlay.
 
For the match, the Cardinals registered only a .151 hitting percentage with 15 attack errors and were blocked seven times.
 
Haley Kindall was the lone double-figure kill producer with 11 and two block assists. Breanna Kramer added eight kills and 14 digs and Maddy Smyth had six kills.
 
Kayce Krucki dug 14 attacks and Sam Obringer bumped 10 digs. Andrea Thobe handed out a season-low 30 assists.
 
The Bears' Anna Schlaak paced the winning effort with 13 kills and 19 digs.
 
Vs. No. 19 Angelo State – L, 1-3 (25-21, 21-25, 23-25, 19-25)
 
WJU went out to an early 11-4 advantage and never gave it up. Angelo State battled back to within a point, 14-13, but WJU netted the next six points and 25-21 win.
 
After tying the match at one, the Belles scored their own seven-point run for a 20-13 lead. Trailing 24-17, the Cardinals put the next six points on the board including three Schleucher kills, but could not pull off the comeback and fell 25-23. WJU used up all its momentum in the strong late third-set comeback and fell behind early as Angelo State completed the upset 25-19.

WJU committed 26 attack errors and hit .151 for the second time on the day. Angelo State posted a .325-hit percentage in the match-deciding fourth set.

Kramer paced the Cards with 15 kills, 11 digs and five total blocks. Schleucher recorded 13 kills with both Kindall and Katie Campbell had 10.

Thobe had a double-double of 47 assists and 10 digs, while Krucki and Sam Obringer dug 33 and 17 balls.

Angelo State received a top-notch outing from Mallory Blauser and her 28 kills and 12 digs.
 
WJU makes its first home appearance since winning the 2015 National Championship and opens Mountain East Conference play against rival West Liberty on Tuesday night, Sept. 13. First serve is set for 7 p.m.