SAINT PETER, Minn. - Senior Emma Nelson recorded her ninth kills-dig double-double of the season tallying 12 kills and 24 digs in St. Catherine's five-set loss at Gustavus Adolphus Wednesday evening. Nelson also had two aces and one block against the Golden Gusties. 

St. Catherine won their first set against Gustavus since 2016 with a score of 25-22. The Gusties battled back to defeat the Wildcats by 10 points at 25-15. St. Kate's put up a tough battle for the Gusties in the third set falling by just three points 25-22, before rallying from behind in the fourth and taking down the Gusties 27-25. Both teams weren't ready to give up in the fifth and final set trading points throughout the set. Gustavus came out of the set as the victor with a score of 15-13 Gusties. 

Nelson had help from junior Erin Tebben and Erin Cutts offensively with Tebben tallying 12 kills and Cutts with 11. Cutts added 3 blocks in the match adding to her season total of 50 ranking her No. 7 in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC). 

Head coach Todd Nelson, "This team continues to show its resiliency and willingness to battle. While it wasn't the best match we have played this season, I am proud of the teams effort and competitiveness. We are so close and we will figure out a way to get over the hump and win one of these tough matches."

Defensively, sophomore Grace Amacher had a big night in the back row with 18 digs. The defensive specialist averages 4.34 digs per set with a season total of 269. 

The Wildcats are home on Saturday hosting St. Olaf College for their Dig Pink match at 3 pm. The match will be played in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness and Hope Lodge. The St. Catherine University Wildcat Student-Athlete Advisory Committee will be collecting donations for Hope Lodge. Find the needs list here.