University of St. Thomas Athletics

Photo by: Maureen Ricard
Tommies push Summit League Co-Champions to close season
11/15/2023 8:46:00 PM | Volleyball
Rudzitis finishes with 15 kills on .458 hitting
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Tommie Volleyball closed its 2023 season with a 3-0 loss (22-25, 16-25, 22-25) to Summit League Co-Champion Kansas City Wednesday night in Kansas City, Mo.
Sophomore Tezra Rudzitis led the Tommies with 15 kills on .458 hitting, while sophomores Allie Kopp and Keya Luta Win Hunt combined for 32 assists. The Tommies finished the season 7-20 overall and 3-13 in league play.
RECAP
A kill Rudzitis gave the Tommies their first point after a 4-0 run by Kansas City. The Roos kept the lead until Kopp had two service aces and two assists to Rudzitis to help a 6-0 run and give the Tommies their first lead of the game,13-12. After both teams traded points, the Roos scored five of the next six points to gain momentum and a 18-15 lead. The Toms pulled to within one point four times, but the Roos held off any runs to secure the 25-22 set win.
A kill by senior Claire Ricard and sophomore Megan Wetter helped the Tommies tie the second set early at 4-4. Rudzitis was then able to stop a 3-0 run by the Roos with a kill to keep the Tommies within three, 10-7. Kansas City continued to grow their lead, with a four-point run to give them a 24-13 lead. Two errors by the Roos and a kill by Rudzitis helped the Tommies close the gap but it wasn't enough.
A 6-1 start to the third match gave the Roos a good lead, but with back-to-back-to-back kills by Wetter, Rudzitis and sophomore Ella Voegele, followed by a service ace by Kopp, the Tommies forced a timeout with a 10-8 game. The Tommies took six of the next seven points with three kills by Rudzitis, to take the lead by three, 14-11. The Roos tied the game back up but the Tommies kept a strong fight until a 7-1 run for the Roos.
TOP TOMMIES
Sophomore Tezra Rudzitis led the Tommies with 15 kills on .458 hitting, while sophomores Allie Kopp and Keya Luta Win Hunt combined for 32 assists. The Tommies finished the season 7-20 overall and 3-13 in league play.
RECAP
A kill Rudzitis gave the Tommies their first point after a 4-0 run by Kansas City. The Roos kept the lead until Kopp had two service aces and two assists to Rudzitis to help a 6-0 run and give the Tommies their first lead of the game,13-12. After both teams traded points, the Roos scored five of the next six points to gain momentum and a 18-15 lead. The Toms pulled to within one point four times, but the Roos held off any runs to secure the 25-22 set win.
A kill by senior Claire Ricard and sophomore Megan Wetter helped the Tommies tie the second set early at 4-4. Rudzitis was then able to stop a 3-0 run by the Roos with a kill to keep the Tommies within three, 10-7. Kansas City continued to grow their lead, with a four-point run to give them a 24-13 lead. Two errors by the Roos and a kill by Rudzitis helped the Tommies close the gap but it wasn't enough.
A 6-1 start to the third match gave the Roos a good lead, but with back-to-back-to-back kills by Wetter, Rudzitis and sophomore Ella Voegele, followed by a service ace by Kopp, the Tommies forced a timeout with a 10-8 game. The Tommies took six of the next seven points with three kills by Rudzitis, to take the lead by three, 14-11. The Roos tied the game back up but the Tommies kept a strong fight until a 7-1 run for the Roos.
TOP TOMMIES
- Sophomore Tezra Rudzitis led the Tommies with 15 kills, and added two digs and a block assist. She finishes the season with three matches with at least 15 kills and set a season high 5.0 kills per set Wednesday. Rudzitis hit .346 or better in three of the last five matches and nine times overall this season. She finished the season ninth in the Summit League hitting .274 and 11th with 2.74 kills per set.
- Sophomore Ella Voegele had 24 digs for an average of 8.0 per set, which is just shy of her own single-match DI era record of 8.25 digs per set set Sunday at Oral Roberts.
- Freshman Ellie Gustafson had seven kills and 10 digs on the night. She led the Tommies with 240 kills this season and ranked 13th in the Summit League hitting 2.64 kills per set.
FOLLOW ALONG
For more information on St. Thomas Volleyball, follow along on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram at @tommievball
-- St. Thomas Athletics --
For more information on St. Thomas Volleyball, follow along on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram at @tommievball
-- St. Thomas Athletics --
Team Stats
UST
KC
Kills
39
39
Errors
20
13
Attempts
135
121
Hitting %
.141
.215
Points
46.0
51.0
Assists
36
35
Aces
5
5
Blocks
2
7
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Players Mentioned
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