Moving forward, a new standard has been set for the Lady Cardinal volleyball program.

Though they fell 3-0 to Navarro in the third-place game at the 2023 NJCAA DI Women's Volleyball Championship Tournament Saturday afternoon, the Lady Cardinals have much to celebrate.

They finished the season with a program record 32 wins, finishing 32-7, and the best-ever finish at the national tournament, taking fourth place after being the No. 5 seed coming in.

In a fourth meeting with the Lady Cardinals this season, Navarro (34-4) won, 25-19, 25-16, 25-16.

The Lady Cardinals jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first set but were unable to sustain the momentum. After a stretch in which the lead see-sawed or was tied, Navarro took control with a 15-10 lead.

Aside from a couple of ties early in the second set, Navarro was in control the rest of the way.

Navarro raced out to a 2-0   lead in the third set and stayed there.

Azul Pilahg led the Lady Cardinals with 21 assists.

Genesis Rodriguez had a team-high nine kills and Emma Bednarek added eight.

Sofia Velez and Mafer Cisneros Salas recorded 13 kills each.

The Lady Cardinals and Navarro split their four matches this season.