University of St. Thomas Athletics
Friday, September 1
St. Paul, Minn.
7:00 p.m. Central
1-4,0-0Summit League
3
vs
1
California Baptist
2-3,0-0WAC
1
2
3
4
F
California Baptist
16
25
20
22
1
St. Thomas (MN)
25
17
25
25
3
Team Stats
CBU
UST
Kills
51
46
Errors
26
19
Attempts
153
145
Hitting %
.163
.186
Points
61.0
61.0
Assists
48
43
Aces
3
4
Blocks
7
11
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
7
Kills
7
Aces
2
Blocks
1
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Players Mentioned
RS
/ VolleyballOH
/ Volleyball
S
/ VolleyballOH/RS
/ Volleyball
RS
/ VolleyballOH
/ Volleyball
DS/L
/ VolleyballMB
/ Volleyball
Photo by: Patrick Hart
Shorthanded Tommies secure first win of 2023 over Lancers, 3-1
9/1/2023 10:14:00 PM | Volleyball
ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The underclassmen of St. Thomas volleyball provided a spark Friday night as the squad took down California Baptist 3-1 (25-16, 17-25, 25-20, 25-22) in Schoenecker Arena for its first win of the 2023 season.
Seven student-athletes were ruled out of the game for the Tommies, leading the team to feature a roster of mainly underclassmen. Just one upperclassman played more than one set for the Purple while the sophomore duo of Kaitlynn Peterson and Megan Wetter combined for half of the team's total kills on the night.
RECAP
Freshman Ellie Gustafson jumpstarted the action with back-to-back service aces for the first two points of the match, beginning a 6-1 run and forcing a CBU timeout. Following a Lancer point, Peterson and Wetter recorded two kills each as part of five straight Tommie points. The Purple closed out the set win hitting .276 with just two attack errors.
The hitting fortunes traded in favor of the Lancers during set two as they built a small lead early. Peterson brought the Tommies within one on a kill but the Lancers scored four straight and 10 of the next 11 points to control the remainder of the set.
A slew of miscues by California Baptist allowed St. Thomas to grab a 4-0 lead in set three, finished off by a solo block from Peterson. The Tommies extended the lead to a set-high seven points, 10-3, following a block assist by Wetter and freshman Miriam Unongo. CBU cut the Purple's lead to three, 18-15, which forced a timeout by the Tommies. Wetter notched a kill out of the timeout to start a run of four of the next five points, helping secure the set and take a 2-1 advantage.
Senior Claire Ricard used a kill to give the Tommies the first lead of the fourth set, followed by a block assist by Peterson and Wetter, kills from each Peterson and Wetter, and a service ace from sophomore Ella Voegele for a 5-0 lead. The Purple kept CBU at arm's length for the majority of the set and held off a late push as the Lancers pulled within two late, 24-22.
TOP TOMMIES
· Sophomore Kaitlynn Peterson paced the Tommies with a career-high 12 kills to go along with three total blocks and two digs. Her previous career high was five kills Aug. 26 against Oakland where she played two sets.
· Freshman Morgan Kealy's double-double streak ended at four matches but led the team in assists (21) for the fifth straight time.
· Sophomore Megan Wetter ended the night with a career-high 11 kills, including five in the third set, following an injury-shortened 2022 season. She hit .259 from the floor and led the team with seven total blocks, as three also came during the third set.
· Freshmen Emily Clausen, Ellie Gustafson, and Miriam Unongo combined for 18 kills, led by Gustafson and Unongo with seven each. Unongo hit a team-best .333 with no errors on the night. Clausen recorded her first career kill during the third set, where she finished with three.
QUOTEABLES
Thoughts from head coach Thanh Pham following Friday's win:
"I was super proud of our freshman. We had four freshmen on the floor at one time. They came up big. Tons of composure. I think we were hungry for a win and I'm glad the girls got what they deserved."
"It was continuous effort. We never let the ball drop without challenging it and I think that made a big difference. I think we served really aggressive. I couldn't be more proud of the freshmen for stepping in and the upperclassmen that were there did a good job."
UP NEXT
St. Thomas closes out the Tommie Invitational Volleyball Tournament at 2 p.m. Saturday with its first-ever match against Milwaukee.
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 --
Seven student-athletes were ruled out of the game for the Tommies, leading the team to feature a roster of mainly underclassmen. Just one upperclassman played more than one set for the Purple while the sophomore duo of Kaitlynn Peterson and Megan Wetter combined for half of the team's total kills on the night.
RECAP
Freshman Ellie Gustafson jumpstarted the action with back-to-back service aces for the first two points of the match, beginning a 6-1 run and forcing a CBU timeout. Following a Lancer point, Peterson and Wetter recorded two kills each as part of five straight Tommie points. The Purple closed out the set win hitting .276 with just two attack errors.
The hitting fortunes traded in favor of the Lancers during set two as they built a small lead early. Peterson brought the Tommies within one on a kill but the Lancers scored four straight and 10 of the next 11 points to control the remainder of the set.
A slew of miscues by California Baptist allowed St. Thomas to grab a 4-0 lead in set three, finished off by a solo block from Peterson. The Tommies extended the lead to a set-high seven points, 10-3, following a block assist by Wetter and freshman Miriam Unongo. CBU cut the Purple's lead to three, 18-15, which forced a timeout by the Tommies. Wetter notched a kill out of the timeout to start a run of four of the next five points, helping secure the set and take a 2-1 advantage.
Senior Claire Ricard used a kill to give the Tommies the first lead of the fourth set, followed by a block assist by Peterson and Wetter, kills from each Peterson and Wetter, and a service ace from sophomore Ella Voegele for a 5-0 lead. The Purple kept CBU at arm's length for the majority of the set and held off a late push as the Lancers pulled within two late, 24-22.
TOP TOMMIES
· Sophomore Kaitlynn Peterson paced the Tommies with a career-high 12 kills to go along with three total blocks and two digs. Her previous career high was five kills Aug. 26 against Oakland where she played two sets.
· Freshman Morgan Kealy's double-double streak ended at four matches but led the team in assists (21) for the fifth straight time.
· Sophomore Megan Wetter ended the night with a career-high 11 kills, including five in the third set, following an injury-shortened 2022 season. She hit .259 from the floor and led the team with seven total blocks, as three also came during the third set.
· Freshmen Emily Clausen, Ellie Gustafson, and Miriam Unongo combined for 18 kills, led by Gustafson and Unongo with seven each. Unongo hit a team-best .333 with no errors on the night. Clausen recorded her first career kill during the third set, where she finished with three.
QUOTEABLES
Thoughts from head coach Thanh Pham following Friday's win:
"I was super proud of our freshman. We had four freshmen on the floor at one time. They came up big. Tons of composure. I think we were hungry for a win and I'm glad the girls got what they deserved."
"It was continuous effort. We never let the ball drop without challenging it and I think that made a big difference. I think we served really aggressive. I couldn't be more proud of the freshmen for stepping in and the upperclassmen that were there did a good job."
UP NEXT
St. Thomas closes out the Tommie Invitational Volleyball Tournament at 2 p.m. Saturday with its first-ever match against Milwaukee.
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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