University of St. Thomas Athletics
Gustavus Adolphus
Volleyball sweeps MIAC again, tops GAC in 4 sets
11/8/2008 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Senior All-American Katie McCaffrey had 20 kills and 11 blocks as No. 6-ranked St. Thomas (28-2) scored a four-set victory over No. 18-ranked Gustavus in Saturday night's MIAC Volleyball Playoff Championship match at UST's Schoenecker Arena.
St. Thomas won 25-20, 25-22, 23-25, 25-15 and improved to 28-0 vs. conference opponents over the last two seasons. UST also moved to 11-0 on the Schoenecker court this season after going 9-1 there last season.
The Tommies swept the MIAC regular-season and playoff titles for the third time in four seasons. In the process Coach Thanh Pham's Tommies secured the MIAC's automatic berth into the NCAA Division III playoffs. For the third time in four seasons, UST will play host to a seven or eight-team NCAA regional tourney that starts Thursday.
McCaffrey also hit .345 Saturday night as she surpassed 1,200 kills and 500 blocks on her career. UST senior libero Katie Kremer added 35 digs and became the first MIAC player to surpass 2,500 career digs.
Sophomore setter Emily Foster had 49 assists, 13 digs, seven blocks and five kills. Junior OH Kyley Crotty added 13 kills and 15 digs. Senior MB DeJurnett Prioleau had nine kills and three blocks; Carlie Waibel added seven kills and 10 digs.
Gustavus (26-4) had its 11-match win streak halted. Bridget Burtzel had 46 assists and 15 digs; Angela Ahrendt had 12 kills and five blocks; and Meghan Gehring added 12 kills and four blocks; and Emily Klein had 27 digs.
Besides the Tommies, the MIAC is expected to have between one to three at-large teams advance when the NCAA regional field is announced Monday morning.
2008 MIAC Playoffs All-Tournament Team
St. Mary's -- Amy Kujak, FR, MH
St. Olaf -- Kim Smisek, SO, OH
Gustavus -- Nicki Ainsworth, SO, OH
Gustavus -- Meghan Gehring, JR, MH
St. Thomas -- Kattie Kremer, SR, Libero
St. Thomas -- DeJurnett Prioleau, SR, MB
Click here for UST-Gustavus box score:
http://www.tommiesports.com/vlbl/stats/11-8-VB.htm
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Kyley Crotty (Eli Adams photo)
DeJurnett Prioleau (Eli Adams photo)
Coach Thanh Pham (Eli Adams photo)
Emily Foster (Eli Adams photo)
Katie Kremer (5), Kyley Crotty (10) (Eli Adams photo)
Carlie Waibel (Eli Adams photo)
Katie McCaffrey (Eli Adams photo)
