University of St. Thomas Athletics
Team Stats
UST
UNO
Kills
45
65
Errors
21
26
Attempts
141
152
Hitting %
.170
.257
Points
58.0
89.0
Assists
44
61
Aces
7
9
Blocks
6
15
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Players Mentioned

Photo by: Kylie Macziewski
Tommies force fifth set against Summit League leader
10/21/2023 7:43:00 PM | Volleyball
Rudzitis sets career high 17 kills to lead St. Thomas
OMAHA, Neb. -- Tommie Volleyball forced the leaders of the Summit League standings to five sets on the road Saturday night before a loss (25-20, 18-25, 25-21, 20-25, 11-15) to the Omaha Mavericks.
Sophomore Tezra Rudzitis led the Tommies with a career high 17 kills and .412 hitting percentage, and sophomore Ella Voegele had a career high of her own, with three services aces and adding 12 digs.
The Toms fall to 5-16 overall and 1-9 in the Summit League while the Mavericks improve to 10-11 overall and 9-2 in league play.
RECAP
The combination of assists by freshman Morgan Kealy and kills by Rudzitis gave the Tommies their first three points to start the match. Freshman Ellie Gustafson quickly followed with two kills of her own. Another Rudzitis-Kealy combination brought the score to 11-11. After a tied game at 14's, the Tommies held the lead the rest of the set. Five kills, one block and finally a service ace by Voegele finished off the Mavericks for a 25-20 win for the Tommies.
Kealy again started the set strong with three assists, with two to Rudzitis and one to Gustafson, to help a 5-3 lead. Back-to-Back kills by senior Claire Ricard from Allie Kopp gave the Tommies the lead, 11-10. A 10-2 run for the Mavericks pulled them head 20-13. A service ace by Voegele and block assist by Ava Wild and Megan Wetter helped bring the game 20-16, but Omaha finished the set on top.
Four errors by the Mavericks gave the Tommies their first points of the third set. A kill by Rudzitis and Wetter, as well as a service ace by Kopp helped the Tommies on a 4-0 run and an 8-6 lead. Omaha continued having errors, while Wetter had a service ace and Gustafson had a kill for a 14-12 St. Thomas lead. Voegele helped the Tommies continue the lead with two assists and service ace for a 19-15 score. The Tommies couldn't be stopped and a kill by senior Ellie Dammann finalized the third set for the Tommies.
Omaha started out the fourth set on top with a 5-3 lead, but a 5-0 run helped the Tommies to a 9-6 lead. Omaha responded with a 10-2 run of their own for a 15-12 score. Twelve back-and-forth points led to a 23-20 Omaha lead, before Rudzitis added three kills and Gustafson added two, with the help of four assists by Kealy. The Mavericks finished the set on top, 25-20, to force a fifth set.
The Mavericks started the shortened fifth set on top with a strong 7-2 lead, but a 4-0 run for the Tommies, including two kills by Mattila from Kealy, helped close the gap, 7-6. The Mavericks scored six of the final nine points, including a long rally at the end, to finish out the match.
TOP TOMMIES
Sophomore Tezra Rudzitis led the Tommies with a career high 17 kills and .412 hitting percentage, and sophomore Ella Voegele had a career high of her own, with three services aces and adding 12 digs.
The Toms fall to 5-16 overall and 1-9 in the Summit League while the Mavericks improve to 10-11 overall and 9-2 in league play.
RECAP
The combination of assists by freshman Morgan Kealy and kills by Rudzitis gave the Tommies their first three points to start the match. Freshman Ellie Gustafson quickly followed with two kills of her own. Another Rudzitis-Kealy combination brought the score to 11-11. After a tied game at 14's, the Tommies held the lead the rest of the set. Five kills, one block and finally a service ace by Voegele finished off the Mavericks for a 25-20 win for the Tommies.
Kealy again started the set strong with three assists, with two to Rudzitis and one to Gustafson, to help a 5-3 lead. Back-to-Back kills by senior Claire Ricard from Allie Kopp gave the Tommies the lead, 11-10. A 10-2 run for the Mavericks pulled them head 20-13. A service ace by Voegele and block assist by Ava Wild and Megan Wetter helped bring the game 20-16, but Omaha finished the set on top.
Four errors by the Mavericks gave the Tommies their first points of the third set. A kill by Rudzitis and Wetter, as well as a service ace by Kopp helped the Tommies on a 4-0 run and an 8-6 lead. Omaha continued having errors, while Wetter had a service ace and Gustafson had a kill for a 14-12 St. Thomas lead. Voegele helped the Tommies continue the lead with two assists and service ace for a 19-15 score. The Tommies couldn't be stopped and a kill by senior Ellie Dammann finalized the third set for the Tommies.
Omaha started out the fourth set on top with a 5-3 lead, but a 5-0 run helped the Tommies to a 9-6 lead. Omaha responded with a 10-2 run of their own for a 15-12 score. Twelve back-and-forth points led to a 23-20 Omaha lead, before Rudzitis added three kills and Gustafson added two, with the help of four assists by Kealy. The Mavericks finished the set on top, 25-20, to force a fifth set.
The Mavericks started the shortened fifth set on top with a strong 7-2 lead, but a 4-0 run for the Tommies, including two kills by Mattila from Kealy, helped close the gap, 7-6. The Mavericks scored six of the final nine points, including a long rally at the end, to finish out the match.
TOP TOMMIES
- Sophomore Tezra Rudzitis had a career high 17 kills for a .412 hitting percentage to lead the Tommies. Rudzitis had six kills alone in the first set.
- Freshman Ellie Gustafson had nine kills and 14 digs for a strong match, nearing her third double-double of the season.
- Sophomore Ella Voegele had a career high three services aces, as well as adding 12 digs for the Tommies.
- Freshman Morgan Kealy added 22 assists for the Tommies, as well as adding eight digs and one service ace.
UP NEXT
The Tommies continue Summit League play with an away match at Denver on Thursday, October 26 at 7 p.m. They will be back in Schoenecker Arena on Saturday October 28 at 12 p.m. to play North Dakota.
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