ADRIAN, Mich. -- Junior setter Carly Tillotson became the all-time career assists leader in Siena Heights women's volleyball history, but the Saints' upset bid of 17th-ranked Madonna fell short in a 3-2 decision in Wednesday's Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference action at the SHU Fieldhouse.

Needing 47 assists to break the school record, Tillotson finished with 53 to move past the former record-holder Melissa Hall, who had 2,433 (2006-09). Tillotson now has 2,440 career helpers.

Mycala Cherry and Leze Vukaj had 16 kills each for the Saints, who lost the match, 14-25, 25-22, 25-17, 22-25, 15-6. Cherry also had 16 digs while Halie Baker put down 13 kills and Nicole Morgan finished with 30 digs.

SHU snapped a 2-2 tie in the opening set, going on a 9-2 run and then crusing to a one-set lead.

Madonna then added two hard-fought points in the second and third sets.

The second featured 15 ties -- the final knot coming at 19-all -- before closing out the set with a 6-3 stretch.

A six-point Crusader run helped the visitors take command in the third set, turning a 4-4 tie into a 10-4 advantage.

Tillotson broke the assists record in the fourth set. She tied the mark on a Baker kill that put the Saints ahead, 19-18, and then set the record on a Vukaj kill that put SHU on top, 20-19. The Saints eventually closed the set on a 6-3 run.

In the fifth, Madonna (30-5, 15-2) scored seven consecutive points to take an 8-1 lead and never looked back in securing the victory.

Casey Gates led MU with 19 kills and 11 digs. Samantha Geile added 10 kills while Roxy Duzey and Amanda Obrycki recorded 16 digs each. Spencer Stokes made 49 assists.

SHU's all-time kills leader, Baker, built on her school record, getting to 1,195 collegiate kills.

The Saints (15-10, 8-9) will be in action next on Friday when they visit cross-town rival Adrian for a 7 p.m. match.