FAIRMONT — St. James Area middle hitter Kaydi Anderson threw herself a block party.

Anderson totaled nine blocks, including four during the final six points of the opening set, in the Saints’ 3-0 Big South Conference volleyball win over the Fairmont Cardinals on Thursday night in Fairmont.

St. James Area took the first set, 25-14. Korryn Karau served the Saints to five consecutive points, including two on ace serves, to build a 9-5 lead, but Sophie Johnson served the Cardinals back within 9-8 after Kylee Harder assisted Cassidy Schultz for a kill.

Callie Radenbaugh later put the Saints ahead 14-9 after an ace, then Addie Bowers served St. James Area to a 17-10 lead when Maddie Brey used one of her game-leading 15 set assists to help Karau to one of her co-team leading seven kills.

With an 18-11 lead, Kaydi Anderson got the first of her blocks, then four points later, her streak began. Anderson earned an ace block on four consecutive points to lead the Saints to a 23-14 lead, before a Brey ace put St. James Area one point away.

A Cardinal spike sailed past the back line to give the Saints a 1-0 set advantage.

Set 2 saw seven ties and five lead changes on the way to a 25-23 Saints’ win.

The teams battled back and forth, tying at three, eight and 10 before either team pulled more than three points ahead.

St. James Area broke away to a 14-10 lead when Brey assisted both Karau and Kelsey Grunewald, then Grunewald earned a kill unassisted.

But the Cardinals fought back to tie at 14 on two Sabrina Segar service aces.

The Saints pulled ahead 21-16 after one of Kaydi Anderson’s co-game leading seven kills and one block from both Anderson and Kierra Curry.

The Cardinals tied the set once again at 23 after Kaitlyn Scott assisted Cambrie Anderson for a kill, but the Cardinals sent one spike wide and one spike long to end the set.

Fairmont head coach Kim Breamer said the team had to make some changes against the Saints.

“We had an off night,” Breamer said. “We had to switch some things up and move some people around. We’ll go out fighting next week.”

The Saints jumped out to an 11-1 lead in the final set when Brey served 11 consecutive points, one on a Brey ace, one on a Karau kill with a Brey assist, one on a combined Kaydi Anderson and Curry block and two on Kaydi Anderson kills.

The Cardinals tried to come back throughout the set, but never got within five points as St. James Area completed a three-set sweep with a 25-15 win.

Breamer said even in a tough loss, there are things to learn.

“We just learn each and every day,” Breamer said. “Learn what people off the bench can do and we take it in strides. We know we can keep running our plays and keep working hard and looking toward the future.”

Andrea Wescott led the Cardinals with five assists, while Scott had four. Schultz had a team-leading six kills to complement two digs and Harder totaled four kills.

Cambrie Anderson led Fairmont with eight digs, while both Madysen Allen and Sophie Johnson had six.

Fairmont (3-10) plays host to Waseca Tuesday night. St. James Area (6-5) hosts a tournament starting at 8:30 a.m. Saturday.

St. James Area took two out of three in a B-squad win over Fairmont on Thursday.

The Saints won the first set 25-20, dropped Set 2, 18-25, then won the deciding third set 16-14.

Vanessa Bliesmer had six kills for the Cardinals, while Kynlie Anderson had three set assists. Jaya Johnson led the defense with five digs.

Martin Luther/Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Truman 3, Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial 0 — The Jaguars mauled the Knights in a Valley Conference clash Thursday night in Lake Crystal.

The Jaguars took individual set wins of 25-22, 25-10, 25-22 to complete the sweep.

Lizzie Oothoudt co-led the Jaguars with seven kills and led the defense with 11 digs, while Michaela Petrowiak also co-led with seven kills and added five blocks.

Lydia Steinhaus had a team-leading 21 set assist to complement four blocks.

The Jaguars (5-9, 3-1 Valley) play host to Madelia at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday night in Northrop.

Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton 3, Martin County West 2 — The Bulldogs fended off the Mavericks in a back-and-forth Valley Conference clash, 25-12, 22-25, 25-15, 23-25, 15-12, respectively, Thursday night in Trimont.

Jenna Clow made 19 digs and generated 12 points – including four aces – on 21-for-22 serving to top MCW, while teammate Logan Kosbab tallied 10 digs, smacked four kills and served up four points behind a 13-for-14 effort.

Bella Bicknase distributed seven set assists, made seven digs and tallied 11 points behind 17 of 19 serving for the Mavericks, while Olivia Anderson drilled six kills.

Shaylynn Anderson doled out seven set assists, made five digs and generated six points on 13-for-14 serving, while Taylor Elliott chipped in eight digs.

Martin County West (3-12) travels to Mankato Loyola on Tuesday night.

Spirit Lake 3, North Union 0 — The Indians fought to a 25-10, 25-4, 25-16 sweep of the Warriors in a nonconference volleyball matchup Thursday night in Armstrong.

Chloe Lofstrom led the Warriors with 10 digs to complement her co-team leading two kills, while Lily Henderson had a team-leading five assists.

May Laverty joined Lofstrom with two kills and added a team-leading two blocks, while Ella Hagebock served a perfect seven-for-seven with two aces.

North Union (2-14) travels to Ida Grove, Iowa, for a tournament at 9 a.m. Saturday.

St. Peter’s match against Blue Earth Area on Thursday night in Blue Earth was postponed due to unplayable court conditions due to the weather.

The Big South Conference clash has been rescheduled for 7:15 p.m. next Thursday night in Blue Earth.