HELENA, Mont. -- The Carroll College Fighting Saints volleyball team closed out a run at the Premier Labor Day Classic with a 2-2 record, splitting matches each day in Bellevue, Nebraska.

The Saints (3-5) earned their first sweep of the season early Saturday, claiming a 3-0 match over Baker (4-7). The Saints won 25-13, 25-22, 25-16.

In the sweep, Hannah Dean, Lexi Mikkelsen and Sophia Spoja combined for 29 kills. 

Later in the day, the Saints had the tall order of taking on No. 22, and tournament host, Bellevue on their home court.

The Saints showed some signs of nerves early on, falling 27-25 and 25-21 in the first two sets.

Facing an 0-2 deficit, Carroll climbed back. 

The Saints dominated Game Three, 25-12, and had another commanding win in the fourth set, 25-18, but the home team's crowd gave the Bruins a nice advantage. 

Bellevue broke the Saints' momentum and claimed the match 3-2 with a 15-12 fifth set win. 

"Disappointed in the loss for sure because we fought so hard, but I believe it will make us stronger," Saints coach Moe Boyle said. "You know you're going to take some lumps with young kids."

Mikkelsen, Dean and Spoja each had 10 kills against Bellevue. 

Jenna Starke led the Saints with 10 blocks.  

Overall, the Saints went 2-2 on the weekend, highlighted by a Top 25 victory over Central Methodist on Friday night. The Saints clearly grew as a team and are rounding into a force to be reckoned with in the Frontier Conference. 

"On the weekend, as a whole, it's very exciting," Boyle said. "I think the potential is incredible. I know we grew as a team. We gained confidence as a team. Some people really stepped up this weekend. We actually used a pretty solid lineup for most of the weekend. We've been mixing it up a lot since we started." 

Carroll next heads to the Providence Invite in Great Falls on Sept. 5 and 6.