University of St. Thomas Athletics
Tommie Volleyball selected eighth in Summit League Preseason Poll
8/23/2023 12:00:00 PM | Volleyball
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- The University of St. Thomas volleyball program was slotted to finish eighth in the 2023 Summit League Preseason Coaches' Poll, as voted on by conference head coaches.
The Tommies tallied 16 points to finish ahead of Oral Roberts while reigning Summit League regular season and tournament champion South Dakota was voted to finish first with 61 points and six first-place votes. North Dakota State followed in second with 54 points and two first-place votes as Omaha rounded out the top three spots with 53 points and the final first-place vote.
Junior outside hitter Lauren Galvin and sophomore middle blocker Emma Goerger were selected as the team's Players to Watch for 2023. Galvin led the Tommies and ranked 10th in the league with 3.12 kills per set and led the team and was 11th in the Summit with 3.49 points per set. Goerger, a member of the 2022 Summit League All-Freshman Team, led the Tommies and was ninth in the conference with 0.97 blocks per set and followed Galvin and was 24th in the Summit with 2.67 points per set.
The 2023 season begins August 25 as all nine Summit League programs take to the court. Eight of the nine programs travel to various tournaments across the country, including St. Thomas as it travels to compete at the Chicago Classic August 25-26 in Chicago, hosted by UIC.
Head Coach Thanh Pham, who will coach his 650th match with the Tommies this season, enters his 21st season leading the program. His tenure is the longest among the nine Summit League head coaches at their respective schools.
Featuring the youngest squad in the conference during the 2022 season, and one of the youngest teams across NCAA Division I, the Purple continued to improve as they earned victories at 14-win Montana State and 18-win Saint Louis during non-conference play.
2023 Summit League Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll
The Tommies tallied 16 points to finish ahead of Oral Roberts while reigning Summit League regular season and tournament champion South Dakota was voted to finish first with 61 points and six first-place votes. North Dakota State followed in second with 54 points and two first-place votes as Omaha rounded out the top three spots with 53 points and the final first-place vote.
Junior outside hitter Lauren Galvin and sophomore middle blocker Emma Goerger were selected as the team's Players to Watch for 2023. Galvin led the Tommies and ranked 10th in the league with 3.12 kills per set and led the team and was 11th in the Summit with 3.49 points per set. Goerger, a member of the 2022 Summit League All-Freshman Team, led the Tommies and was ninth in the conference with 0.97 blocks per set and followed Galvin and was 24th in the Summit with 2.67 points per set.
The 2023 season begins August 25 as all nine Summit League programs take to the court. Eight of the nine programs travel to various tournaments across the country, including St. Thomas as it travels to compete at the Chicago Classic August 25-26 in Chicago, hosted by UIC.
Head Coach Thanh Pham, who will coach his 650th match with the Tommies this season, enters his 21st season leading the program. His tenure is the longest among the nine Summit League head coaches at their respective schools.
Featuring the youngest squad in the conference during the 2022 season, and one of the youngest teams across NCAA Division I, the Purple continued to improve as they earned victories at 14-win Montana State and 18-win Saint Louis during non-conference play.
2023 Summit League Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll
| Rank | School | Points (1st) | 2022 Record (SL) |
| 1. | South Dakota | 61 (6) | 29-4 (16-2) |
| 2. | North Dakota State | 54 (2) | 21-12 (13-5) |
| 3. | Omaha | 53 (1) | 20-11 (14-4) |
| 4. | South Dakota State | 39 | 18-15 (11-7) |
| 5. | North Dakota | 34 | 12-18 (9-9) |
| 6. | Denver | 30 | 19-12 (12-6) |
| 7. | Kansas City | 25 | 10-21 (7-11) |
| 8. | St. Thomas | 16 | 4-26 (2-16) |
| 9. | Oral Roberts | 12 | 9-21 (6-12) |
Did You Know?
- The youth movement continues for the Tommies as the 20-member squad is comprised of nine sophomores and five freshmen, to go along with two seniors and four juniors.
- St. Thomas' season-opening opponent and host of the Chicago Classic, UIC, finished the 2022 season with a 22-10 record and 13-5 mark during its first season in the Missouri Valley Conference. The Flames finished third in the conference before being ousted in the semifinal round of the MVC Championship.
- The Tommies are set to host their first tournament, the Tommie Invitational Volleyball Tournament, as an NCAA Division I program. California Baptist, Milwaukee, and Montana State converge in Schoenecker Arena from Aug. 31 – Sept. 2. The Purple open the tournament and their home schedule at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 31 against Montana State.
- St. Thomas opens its Summit League schedule Thursday, Sept. 21 with a home contest against South Dakota State, one of 11 home matches for the Toms this season.
- The non-conference schedule includes matches against opponents from seven different conferences: Missouri Valley (3), Horizon (2), MAC (2), Big East (1), Big Sky (1), Ohio Valley (1), and WAC (1).
- Head Coach Thanh Pham will coach his 650th match for St. Thomas on Friday, Sept. 29, a road match at North Dakota.
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-- St. Thomas Athletics --
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