University of St. Thomas Athletics
Friday, August 25
Chicago, Ill. / Credit Union 1 Arena
12:00 p.m. Central
at
UIC
Photo by: Wesley Dean
Game Notes -- Tommie Volleyball opens 2023 season Aug. 25-26 at Chicago Classic
8/24/2023 9:30:00 AM | Volleyball
ST. PAUL, Minn. -- St. Thomas Volleyball is back to action August 25-26 as it takes part in the Chicago Classic hosted by UIC in Chicago. The Tommies are set to take on three opponents for the first time in program history, all at the Credit Union 1 Arena.
St. Thomas opens its weekend of action Friday with matches against UIC at 12 p.m. and Lindenwood at 5 p.m. The Purple finish their opening weekend with the first-ever meeting against Oakland at 1 p.m.
Summit League Preseason Poll
The Tommies enter the season ranked eighth as the 2023 Summit League Preseason Coaches' Poll was released Wednesday, August 23. St. Thomas garnered 16 points to finish ahead of Oral Roberts in the poll.
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 while Omaha rounded out the top three spots with 53 points and the final first-place vote.
Keep an Eye Out
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 led the Tommies with 0.97 blocks per set and followed Galvin with 2.67 points per set.
Scouting UIC
UIC comes off the 2022 season in which it finished 22-10 overall with a 13-5 mark during its first season as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference. The Flames finished third in the conference before being ousted in the semifinal round of the MVC postseason tournament.
Seniors Sohila Wafeek and Martina Delucchi were announced as members of the 2023 MVC Preseason All-Conference Team, representing the only school to have multiple representatives on the list.
Scouting Lindenwood
Lindenwood was selected to finish seventh in the Ohio Valley Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll during its second season in NCAA Division I. During their inaugural DI season, the Lions finished with an overall record of 12-17, including an 8-10 mark against conference opponents. LU took down second-seeded Tennessee Tech in a sweep to open the OVC Championship before a season-ending 3-2 loss to Tennessee State in the semifinal round.
Junior outside hitter Madilyn Dement led the squad's nine returners with 2.80 points per set after playing 27 matches and 104 sets. Junior setter Abby VanBuskirk paced the team and ranked third in the OVC with 9.54 assists per set while senior libero Jessie Seidel ranked sixth in the conference with 3.94 digs per set.
Scouting Oakland
Last season, Oakland came away with an 11-19 overall record and 7-11 record in the Horizon League, finishing seventh in the conference to just miss the six-team championship tournament.
Senior outside hitter Patti Cesarini garnered All-Horizon League First Team honors in 2022 after finishing second in the league with 3.66 kills per set over 112 sets played. She started all 30 matches played and ranked second on the team with 2.64 digs per set.
Nice to Meet You
Among the 11 non-conference opponents, the Tommies will face 10 for the first time in program history. After playing UIC, Lindenwood, and Oakland for the first time ever in the season-opening Chicago Classic, St. Thomas will face Montana State for the second time in as many seasons to begin the Tommie Invitational Volleyball Tournament.
Summit League Network
Beginning with the 2023 season, all home Tommie Volleyball matches, and all Summit League matches will be streamed exclusively on the Summit League Network, in partnership with Midco Sports. A subscription-based network, viewers can access all St. Thomas athletics events HERE.
Beginning Another Decade
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. Pham is set to reach the 650-match mark on Friday, Sept. 29, a road match at North Dakota.
The Staff's All Back
All four members of the Tommie Volleyball coaching staff return for the 2023 season. Joining Pham during the previous two seasons since joining NCAA Division I are assistant coaches Joy Tietz and David Ganser. In his second season with the program is assistant coach Kevin Rivas. Also in her second season is director of operations Malissa LeClaire.
The Youth Movement Continues
The 20-member Tommie squad is comprised of nine sophomores and five freshmen, to go along with two seniors and four juniors.
St. Thomas has seven new student-athletes on its roster this season: Bradley transfer and outside hitter Kaitlynn Peterson (Lakeville, Minn.), UNC Greensboro transfer and defensive specialist Ella Voegele (Plymouth, Minn.), freshman right side Emily Clausen (Waukesha, Wis.), freshman outside hitter Ellie Gustafson (Monticello, Wis.), freshman setter Morgan Kealy (River Falls, Wis.), freshman middle blocker Addison Schmotzer (Madison, Wis.), and freshman outside hitter Miriam Unongo (Minneapolis, Minn.).
Tommie Invitational Volleyball Tournament
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 through Sept. 2. The Purple open the tournament and their home schedule at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 31 against Montana State.
Looking at the Yearbook
Reflecting on 2022, the Tommies fielded one of the youngest teams across all of NCAA Division I. Last year's squad included just one senior and three juniors with the youth of sophomores and freshmen including 16 student-athletes.
The Toms improved one victory over their 2021 season total as their second fall of Division I play, but the Purple continue to improve and compete at a high level. They picked up nonconference wins at 14-win Montana State and 18-win Saint Louis and swept Western Illinois in conference play. Both wins against Western Illinois came in straight sets.
All-Freshman Team: Part Two
Emma Goerger and Tezra Rudzitis followed in the footsteps of junior Lauren Galvin as selections to the seven-player Summit League All-Freshman Team last season. Goerger was one of four Toms to play in all 30 matches and ranked ninth in the league with 0.97 blocks per set and 24th with 2.67 points per set. She had 101 total blocks and 195 total kills. Rudzitis played in 28 matches with 21 starts and was second for St. Thomas with 2.07 kills per set (190 total kills).
Follow Along
For more information on St. Thomas Volleyball, follow along on X and Instagram at @tommievball
Join Us
To reserve your seat to be a part of the Tommies' 2023 season, click HERE to view ticketing information and purchase options.
-- St. Thomas Athletics --
St. Thomas opens its weekend of action Friday with matches against UIC at 12 p.m. and Lindenwood at 5 p.m. The Purple finish their opening weekend with the first-ever meeting against Oakland at 1 p.m.
Summit League Preseason Poll
The Tommies enter the season ranked eighth as the 2023 Summit League Preseason Coaches' Poll was released Wednesday, August 23. St. Thomas garnered 16 points to finish ahead of Oral Roberts in the poll.
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 while Omaha rounded out the top three spots with 53 points and the final first-place vote.
Keep an Eye Out
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 led the Tommies with 0.97 blocks per set and followed Galvin with 2.67 points per set.
Scouting UIC
UIC comes off the 2022 season in which it finished 22-10 overall with a 13-5 mark during its first season as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference. The Flames finished third in the conference before being ousted in the semifinal round of the MVC postseason tournament.
Seniors Sohila Wafeek and Martina Delucchi were announced as members of the 2023 MVC Preseason All-Conference Team, representing the only school to have multiple representatives on the list.
Scouting Lindenwood
Lindenwood was selected to finish seventh in the Ohio Valley Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll during its second season in NCAA Division I. During their inaugural DI season, the Lions finished with an overall record of 12-17, including an 8-10 mark against conference opponents. LU took down second-seeded Tennessee Tech in a sweep to open the OVC Championship before a season-ending 3-2 loss to Tennessee State in the semifinal round.
Junior outside hitter Madilyn Dement led the squad's nine returners with 2.80 points per set after playing 27 matches and 104 sets. Junior setter Abby VanBuskirk paced the team and ranked third in the OVC with 9.54 assists per set while senior libero Jessie Seidel ranked sixth in the conference with 3.94 digs per set.
Scouting Oakland
Last season, Oakland came away with an 11-19 overall record and 7-11 record in the Horizon League, finishing seventh in the conference to just miss the six-team championship tournament.
Senior outside hitter Patti Cesarini garnered All-Horizon League First Team honors in 2022 after finishing second in the league with 3.66 kills per set over 112 sets played. She started all 30 matches played and ranked second on the team with 2.64 digs per set.
Nice to Meet You
Among the 11 non-conference opponents, the Tommies will face 10 for the first time in program history. After playing UIC, Lindenwood, and Oakland for the first time ever in the season-opening Chicago Classic, St. Thomas will face Montana State for the second time in as many seasons to begin the Tommie Invitational Volleyball Tournament.
Summit League Network
Beginning with the 2023 season, all home Tommie Volleyball matches, and all Summit League matches will be streamed exclusively on the Summit League Network, in partnership with Midco Sports. A subscription-based network, viewers can access all St. Thomas athletics events HERE.
Beginning Another Decade
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. Pham is set to reach the 650-match mark on Friday, Sept. 29, a road match at North Dakota.
The Staff's All Back
All four members of the Tommie Volleyball coaching staff return for the 2023 season. Joining Pham during the previous two seasons since joining NCAA Division I are assistant coaches Joy Tietz and David Ganser. In his second season with the program is assistant coach Kevin Rivas. Also in her second season is director of operations Malissa LeClaire.
The Youth Movement Continues
The 20-member Tommie squad is comprised of nine sophomores and five freshmen, to go along with two seniors and four juniors.
St. Thomas has seven new student-athletes on its roster this season: Bradley transfer and outside hitter Kaitlynn Peterson (Lakeville, Minn.), UNC Greensboro transfer and defensive specialist Ella Voegele (Plymouth, Minn.), freshman right side Emily Clausen (Waukesha, Wis.), freshman outside hitter Ellie Gustafson (Monticello, Wis.), freshman setter Morgan Kealy (River Falls, Wis.), freshman middle blocker Addison Schmotzer (Madison, Wis.), and freshman outside hitter Miriam Unongo (Minneapolis, Minn.).
Tommie Invitational Volleyball Tournament
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 through Sept. 2. The Purple open the tournament and their home schedule at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 31 against Montana State.
Looking at the Yearbook
Reflecting on 2022, the Tommies fielded one of the youngest teams across all of NCAA Division I. Last year's squad included just one senior and three juniors with the youth of sophomores and freshmen including 16 student-athletes.
The Toms improved one victory over their 2021 season total as their second fall of Division I play, but the Purple continue to improve and compete at a high level. They picked up nonconference wins at 14-win Montana State and 18-win Saint Louis and swept Western Illinois in conference play. Both wins against Western Illinois came in straight sets.
All-Freshman Team: Part Two
Emma Goerger and Tezra Rudzitis followed in the footsteps of junior Lauren Galvin as selections to the seven-player Summit League All-Freshman Team last season. Goerger was one of four Toms to play in all 30 matches and ranked ninth in the league with 0.97 blocks per set and 24th with 2.67 points per set. She had 101 total blocks and 195 total kills. Rudzitis played in 28 matches with 21 starts and was second for St. Thomas with 2.07 kills per set (190 total kills).
Follow Along
For more information on St. Thomas Volleyball, follow along on X and Instagram at @tommievball
Join Us
To reserve your seat to be a part of the Tommies' 2023 season, click HERE to view ticketing information and purchase options.
-- St. Thomas Athletics --
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