University of St. Thomas Athletics
Friday, August 25
Chicago, Ill. / Credit Union 1 Arena
12:00 p.m. Central
0-1,0-0Summit League
2
at
3
UIC
1-0,0-0MVC
1
2
3
4
5
F
St. Thomas (MN)
16
32
25
25
8
2
UIC
25
34
15
19
15
3
Team Stats
UST
UIC
Kills
52
67
Errors
26
35
Attempts
164
167
Hitting %
.159
.192
Points
71.0
84.0
Assists
51
63
Aces
9
7
Blocks
10
10
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
13
Aces
1
Blocks
2
Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
9
Aces
2
Blocks
6
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Players Mentioned
MB
/ VolleyballOH
/ VolleyballMB
/ VolleyballOH
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
S
/ VolleyballRS
/ Volleyball
DS
/ Volleyball
DS/L
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
DS
/ Volleyball
Photo by: Wesley Dean
Tommie Volleyball resilient in close Chicago Classic losses
8/25/2023 9:09:00 PM | Volleyball
CHICAGO -- The freshmen duo of Ellie Gustafson and Morgan Kealy shined during their collegiate debuts as the University of St. Thomas volleyball team opened its season with close losses against UIC and Lindenwood University on Friday night to open the Chicago Classic.
Kealy totaled 43 assists and 11 digs against the Flames, the first of two double-doubles on the day. Her 43 assists finished as the second most in a single match for the Tommies since joining NCAA Division I. Gustafson paced the Tommies with 13 kills during a five-set loss to host school UIC, adding five digs, two blocks, and one service ace in four sets. She ended the day with a team-high 25 kills, followed by junior Lauren Galvin with a team-best 13 kills against Lindenwood and 11 against the Flames.
RECAPS
MATCH ONE VS. UIC – L, 3-2 (16-25, 32-34, 25-15, 25-19, 8-15)
Following a set one loss, 25-16, the Tommies faced a multi-point deficit early in set two. Goerger recorded a kill and service ace as part of a four-point run to grab a 9-7 lead. After the Flames tied the set at 9-9, the Purple went on to score 10 of the next 13 points, including two kills from Gustafson and two block assists from Goerger, for a 19-12 lead. UIC followed with a run of its own to tie the set, 21-21, and forced extra points. Both the Tommies and Flames had five chances at the set point, which ultimately went to UIC, 34-32.
The Tommies bounced back in set three with a 10-3 run, including four kills from Ellie Gustafson. A block assist from Goerger and Kealy and a solo block by Goerger during the next point pushed the St. Thomas lead to 23-13 before Gustafson won the set on a service ace.
After being tied early in set four, Gustafson started an 8-1 run to go ahead 16-9. UIC followed with six straight points to pull within one, but the Toms separated again while a kill from Claire Ricard set up a UIC attack error to win the set.
UIC used nine kills to take a 10-3 lead in set five, setting up the Flames 15-8 victory to seal the match.
MATCH TWO VS. LINDENWOOD – L, 3-1 (24-26, 22-25, 25-21, 21-25)
A handful of Lindenwood errors and kills from Ellie Dammann and Claire Ricard set up a string of six straight Tommie points during set one, as Goerger and Ava Wild each recorded three kills to give the Toms a 16-10 lead. The Lions came back with five of the next seven points and eventually added eight of the final nine points to steal set one, 26-24.
The Lions held the lead early in set two before a kill from Gustafson kickstarted a run to tie the set, 12-12. The Tommies tied the set twice after but five straight kills from LU set up the 25-22 victory.
Dammann powered the start of the third set with a kill followed by a block assist from Ricard and Megan Wetter for a quick 2-0 lead. The Tommies extended their lead to six, 9-3, on another point from Wetter and led for the remainder of the set, closing the run with four of the final five points.
Neither team pulled away as set four featured nine ties, ending on an assisted kill by Galvin to tie Lindenwood, 15-15. Following four straight points from the Lions, Galvin recorded her team-high 13th kill of the match to begin three straight points. LU closed the match with six of the final nine points to take the win.
TOP TOMMIES
· Freshman setter Morgan Kealy recorded 43 assists during her first career collegiate match, which is second-most in a single match for St. Thomas since joining NCAA Division I. She also notched double-doubles over both matches of the day, finishing with 43 assists and 11 digs against UIC and 30 assists and 11 digs against Lindenwood. Sophomore and fellow setter Keya Luta Win Hunt also recorded a double-double against Lindenwood with 12 assists and 11 digs.
· Sophomore Ella Voegele led the squad with 41 digs, including 22 against UIC which is tied for the seventh-most in a single game for the Tommies since joining Division I. Her 22 digs tied with junior Payton Willman from 2021 and former Tommie Carrie Rutledge last season.
· Freshman Ellie Gustafson led the Tommies with 25 kills over both matches, finishing with a team-high 13 against UIC and 12 against Lindenwood. She added 14 digs, three service aces, two blocks, and 29 points on the day.
· Junior Lauren Galvin paced the Toms with 13 kills against Lindenwood, hitting a .310 percentage to go along with seven digs.
· Senior Claire Ricard hit over .400 in both matches, totaling eight kills on 14 attempts for a team-best .429 hitting percentage against UIC and adding four kills on nine attempts for another team-best .444 hitting percentage.
· Sophomore Emma Goerger led the defense with a team-best eight blocks over both matches, including six with one solo against the Flames. She finished third with 19 kills on the day, as seven came during set one against the Lions.
QUOTEABLES
Thoughts from head coach Thanh Pham after the season-opening match against UIC:
"It was a great start to the season. Although it wasn't the result we wanted, we showed a lot of grit and improvement. There were a lot of great contributions made by both returners and newcomers. I am excited for our next match."
Thoughts from Pham after St. Thomas' loss against Lindenwood:
"We took another positive step forward with another hard fought effort. I'm proud of the progress we've made and am hopeful for the season."
UP NEXT
The Tommies close out the Chicago Classic at 1 p.m. Saturday, August 26 with a match against Oakland.
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 --
Kealy totaled 43 assists and 11 digs against the Flames, the first of two double-doubles on the day. Her 43 assists finished as the second most in a single match for the Tommies since joining NCAA Division I. Gustafson paced the Tommies with 13 kills during a five-set loss to host school UIC, adding five digs, two blocks, and one service ace in four sets. She ended the day with a team-high 25 kills, followed by junior Lauren Galvin with a team-best 13 kills against Lindenwood and 11 against the Flames.
RECAPS
MATCH ONE VS. UIC – L, 3-2 (16-25, 32-34, 25-15, 25-19, 8-15)
Following a set one loss, 25-16, the Tommies faced a multi-point deficit early in set two. Goerger recorded a kill and service ace as part of a four-point run to grab a 9-7 lead. After the Flames tied the set at 9-9, the Purple went on to score 10 of the next 13 points, including two kills from Gustafson and two block assists from Goerger, for a 19-12 lead. UIC followed with a run of its own to tie the set, 21-21, and forced extra points. Both the Tommies and Flames had five chances at the set point, which ultimately went to UIC, 34-32.
The Tommies bounced back in set three with a 10-3 run, including four kills from Ellie Gustafson. A block assist from Goerger and Kealy and a solo block by Goerger during the next point pushed the St. Thomas lead to 23-13 before Gustafson won the set on a service ace.
After being tied early in set four, Gustafson started an 8-1 run to go ahead 16-9. UIC followed with six straight points to pull within one, but the Toms separated again while a kill from Claire Ricard set up a UIC attack error to win the set.
UIC used nine kills to take a 10-3 lead in set five, setting up the Flames 15-8 victory to seal the match.
MATCH TWO VS. LINDENWOOD – L, 3-1 (24-26, 22-25, 25-21, 21-25)
A handful of Lindenwood errors and kills from Ellie Dammann and Claire Ricard set up a string of six straight Tommie points during set one, as Goerger and Ava Wild each recorded three kills to give the Toms a 16-10 lead. The Lions came back with five of the next seven points and eventually added eight of the final nine points to steal set one, 26-24.
The Lions held the lead early in set two before a kill from Gustafson kickstarted a run to tie the set, 12-12. The Tommies tied the set twice after but five straight kills from LU set up the 25-22 victory.
Dammann powered the start of the third set with a kill followed by a block assist from Ricard and Megan Wetter for a quick 2-0 lead. The Tommies extended their lead to six, 9-3, on another point from Wetter and led for the remainder of the set, closing the run with four of the final five points.
Neither team pulled away as set four featured nine ties, ending on an assisted kill by Galvin to tie Lindenwood, 15-15. Following four straight points from the Lions, Galvin recorded her team-high 13th kill of the match to begin three straight points. LU closed the match with six of the final nine points to take the win.
TOP TOMMIES
· Freshman setter Morgan Kealy recorded 43 assists during her first career collegiate match, which is second-most in a single match for St. Thomas since joining NCAA Division I. She also notched double-doubles over both matches of the day, finishing with 43 assists and 11 digs against UIC and 30 assists and 11 digs against Lindenwood. Sophomore and fellow setter Keya Luta Win Hunt also recorded a double-double against Lindenwood with 12 assists and 11 digs.
· Sophomore Ella Voegele led the squad with 41 digs, including 22 against UIC which is tied for the seventh-most in a single game for the Tommies since joining Division I. Her 22 digs tied with junior Payton Willman from 2021 and former Tommie Carrie Rutledge last season.
· Freshman Ellie Gustafson led the Tommies with 25 kills over both matches, finishing with a team-high 13 against UIC and 12 against Lindenwood. She added 14 digs, three service aces, two blocks, and 29 points on the day.
· Junior Lauren Galvin paced the Toms with 13 kills against Lindenwood, hitting a .310 percentage to go along with seven digs.
· Senior Claire Ricard hit over .400 in both matches, totaling eight kills on 14 attempts for a team-best .429 hitting percentage against UIC and adding four kills on nine attempts for another team-best .444 hitting percentage.
· Sophomore Emma Goerger led the defense with a team-best eight blocks over both matches, including six with one solo against the Flames. She finished third with 19 kills on the day, as seven came during set one against the Lions.
QUOTEABLES
Thoughts from head coach Thanh Pham after the season-opening match against UIC:
"It was a great start to the season. Although it wasn't the result we wanted, we showed a lot of grit and improvement. There were a lot of great contributions made by both returners and newcomers. I am excited for our next match."
Thoughts from Pham after St. Thomas' loss against Lindenwood:
"We took another positive step forward with another hard fought effort. I'm proud of the progress we've made and am hopeful for the season."
UP NEXT
The Tommies close out the Chicago Classic at 1 p.m. Saturday, August 26 with a match against Oakland.
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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