DOUBLE-BLOCKED ­— Fairmont’s Nevaeh Rahm (left) and Grace Pendergast (5) elevate to combine for a double block on a spike by St. James hitter Journey Swanson (far right) during Big South Conference volleyball action Thursday night at Cardinal Gym in Fairmont. The Saints’ Madi Whitney (24) watches the action. (Photo by Greg Abel)

FAIRMONT — The St. James Saints literally passed the Fairmont Cardinals’ serving reception test during Games 3 and 4 to exit Cardinal Gym with a 3-1 Big South Conference volleyball victory in hand on Thursday night.

“We just couldn’t handle Fairmont’s two players (Grace Pendergast and Danika Eisenmenger) who served five and seven points (respectively) during Game 2 after we won the opener behind our serving,” said St. James coach Jodi Geistfeld, who lineup won by respective scores of 25-11, 12-25, 25-19, 25-17.

Madelyn Malmgren followed her own sideout cut kill off one of setter Jacey Swanson’s match-best 29 assists by stepping to the end line and rattling off six consecutive serves to stake the Saints to an early 10-3 lead in Game 1.

Ellie Stordalen then rotated into St. James’ service rotation off an ensuing Fairmont service error to deliver six more unanswered points, with Journey Swanson and Madi Whitney each pounding down two kills to ignite the run, to build a commanding 17-6 lead in the opener.

Journey Swanson later generated a five-point service stint to inch the Saints within 23-9 of pocketing Game 1. Laney Bowers’ kill off a Jacey Swanson set assist eventually led to the 14-point win.

After the two league rivals slugged out a nip-and-tuck Game 2 to 11-9 in the Cardinals’ favor, Pendergast assembled a pivotal five-point service surge to swing the momentum and seven-point lead to the hometown lineup.

Brylee Miller drilled three of her match-best 18 kills during the run, Eisenmenger smacked a down-the-line spike and Ellie Ortega recorded a key block.

Ortega later converted one of Pendergast’s 21 set assists for a sideout kill and Eisenmenger nearly served Fairmont to the Game 2 win at 24-11. Eisenmenger reeled off seven straight service points, with Miller supplying a bump tip and a block to extend the string of points. Miller later crushed a Pendergast set assist for the Game 2-winning point at 25-12.

“Once we regrouped and got our passing attack back on track in Game 3, we regained the momentum in the match,” said Geistfeld. “After it was tied at 13-all, we were able to attack at the net and keep them on the run trying to return our spikes.

“We proved we can hit the ball — it’s just a matter of getting it to our setter off the pass.”

This time, Jacey Swanson proved the pivotal server for St. James in Game 3, assembling a momentum-swinging four-point span. Bowers, Whitney and Malmgren each delivered spike-winners above the net to build a 17-13 lead.

Miller, Eisenmenger and Ortega chipped away with kills for the Cardinals, but Stordalen restored the Saints’ momentum with a Game 3-clinching three-point service run as Journey Swanson nailed the final kill. Stordalen topped all servers by completing 21 of 21 for a match-best 19 points.

In fact, Stordalen produced both the comeback service surge and the Game 4-winning performance at the line, combining for seven vital points.

Pendergast rattled off five consecutive points from the end line, with Miller providing the frontline firepower, to open Game 4, but the Saints came marching back behind Journey Swanson’s multiple conversions of her twin sister Jacey Swanson’s set assists to narrow St. James’ gap.

Trailing 11-7, Stordalen drew the Saints even on the scoreboard, with Whitney cashing in two of Jacey Swanson’s assists before Nevaeh Rahm drilled a sideout kill for Fairmont.

The two teams exchanged mini-runs down the stretch before Stordalen’s sideout drive rotated her to the back row where she served out the final three points of a 25-17 win. Journey Swanson smacked the match-winning kill off Jacey Swanson’s loft.

Malmgren and Journey Swanson each finished with a team-best 11 kills, Whitney supplied nine kills, while Bowers chipped in six more.

Meredith Nemmers, Eisenmenger and Rahm each contributed six kills to the Cardinals’ effort.

Fairmont (2-10) travels to Waseca on Tuesday night, while St. James (3-5) plays host to an invitational at 8:30 a.m. Saturday.

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St. Peter 3, Blue Earth Area 0 — The Saints swept the Bucs 25-15, 25-20, 25-18 during Big South Conference action Thursday night in Blue Earth.

Autumn Gordon finished with a team-high nine kills, had two blocks and served 13-of-15 for nine points for the Bucs.

Hailey Becker doled out 16 set assists, made seven digs and was 14-of-15 serving with eight for BEA, while Taylor Klabunde tallied 14 digs and was 5-of-6 serving.

Blue Earth Area (2-5) competes in the United South Central Invitational at 9 a.m. Saturday in Wells.

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Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial 3, Martin County West 0 — The Knights claimed the Valley Conference match by consecutive game wins of 25-11, 25-19, 25-18 on Thursday night in Lake Crystal.

Cami Clow smacked five kills and served 10 of 10 for MCW, while teammate Maddie Carlson connected on 15 of 15 serves and supplied seven digs.

Emily Anderson topped the Mavericks with six kills, Emily Schettler distributed eight set assists, Courtney Anderson contributed eight digs and Avery Sanders added six digs.

Martin County West (7-11) travels to Cleveland on Tuesday night.

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Mankato Loyola 3, Martin Luther/Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Truman 2 — The Crusaders outlasted the Jaguars, 22-25, 25-11, 25-22, 21-25, 15-10 during Valley Conference action Thursday night in Mankato.

Keira Benck and Lindsey Diegnau paced the Jaguars by doling out 18 and 12 set assists, respectively, while teammates Londyn Bowers and Brianna Petrowiak paved the way with 10 and eight kills, respectively.

Bowers also collected 20 digs and served 15-of-18 serving to complement three blocks, Diegnau was 16-of-20 serving with one ace, Bethany Petrowiak tallied five blocks, while Ashley Singleton finished with 23 digs.

The Jaguars (4-9) compete in the United South Central Invite at 9 a.m. Saturday in Wells.