University of St. Thomas Athletics
Friday, September 20
Green Bay, Wis. / Kress Center
11:00 a.m. Central
vs
Chicago State
Photo by: Milwaukee Athletics
Tommie Volleyball wraps up non-conference play with two matches Friday
9/19/2024 9:31:00 AM | Volleyball
St. Thomas to face Chicago State, Green Bay at Capital Credit Union Classic
ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Tommie Volleyball is set to compete in its final non-conference matches of the season on September 20 at the Kress Center in Green Bay, Wis. The team will take on Chicago State at 11 a.m. and then face host Green Bay at 4 p.m. as part of the Capital Credit Union Classic.
Both matches will feature Live Stats HERE.
Toms On a Roll
St. Thomas volleyball has been on a roll over its past seven matches, going 6-1 over that stretch. The Tommies' six wins is one shy of its Division I single season record and is the second most in the Summit League this season. The play of previous Summit League Peak Performers of the Week Lauren Galvin (Offensive/Sept. 10) and Ella Voegele (Defensive/Sept. 10) guided St. Thomas to a 3-0 weekend at the Tommie Invitational Sept. 5-7, claiming its first tournament title of the DI era.
The lone blemish over the past seven matches came at No. 19 Minnesota as St. Thomas fell in three sets (20-25, 16-25, 21-25). Morgan Kealy recorded her fourth double-double of the season as the Purple made late charges against the Gophers.
St. Thomas was perfect and won its second straight non-conference tournament title following wins over Illinois State, Iowa and Milwaukee at the Panther Invitational in Milwaukee, Wis. The victory against Iowa was the first ever for the program over a Power Five team. Kealy racked up 43 assists while Voegele totaled 28 digs in the four set match. Ellie Gustafson and Tezra Rudzitis led the Tommies with 14 kills each before again both tying for the team lead of 15 kills to close the tournament against Milwaukee.
The First Perfect Non-Conference Tournament
The 2024 Tommie Invitational Volleyball Tournament was a success as the home team came away with a perfect 3-0 record, claiming the tournament title. It's the first tournament title and first three match winning streak during the DI era.
St. Thomas opened its weekend with a sweep over Tarleton State coming off a stellar offensive attack. The Tommies hit .295 on the offensive end with only 11 errors, the best hitting percentage since Oct. 15, 2022, and the fewest errors since Nov. 12, 2022.
The Tommies carried the momentum over to its match against Valparaiso, winning the first two sets. The Beacons came back to win sets three and four but, the Toms made a late surge and scored four of the final five points to win the fifth set.
Galvin and junior Tezra Rudzitis powered the offense and combined for 32 kills to help St. Thomas to a 3-1 win over NIU. Rudzitis tied a career high 17 kills on a .333 hitting percentage.
Seeing Double-Double(s)
Galvin and Kealy have been productive on both ends of the court while combining for nine of the team's 10 double doubles through 10 St. Thomas matches this season. The duo has also combined for 29 career double-doubles.
Kealy doubled her season double-double totaled over the past week with three in four matches. After recording 20 assists with 10 digs at No. 19 Minnesota, Kealy added 39 assists and 10 digs against Illinois State and 42 assists and 10 digs at Milwaukee, bringing her career total to 14 double-doubles. As part of her final double-double, Kealy topped the 1,000 career assist mark to become the first Tommie to do so during the DI era. Galvin recorded back-to-back double-doubles, now at 15 through her career, to close out the Tommie Invitational with 18 kills and 14 digs against Valpo and 15 kills and 10 digs against NIU.
Meet Us at the Net
Megan Wetter continues to serve as the Tommies' top attack stuffer as she ranks sixth in the Summit League with 1.06 blocks per set. She has led St. Thomas in blocks seven times and holds the league's third-most single-match blocks this season with nine against Valparaiso.
At the season-opening CEFCU Invitational, redshirt freshman Addie Schmotzer flashed her potential on the defensive end while leading the team with 11.0 total blocks. She began her collegiate career with six block assists against Southern Indiana and has led the Tommies in blocks in five matches. Schmotzer ranks 13th in the Summit League with 0.73 blocks per set.
Can You Dig It?
Voegele and the defense of the Tommies has the team near the top nationally in digs, ranking 12th overall and first in the Summit League with 17.62 per set. Voegele ranks eighth nationally and leads the league with 5.38 digs per set after totaling 4.83 digs per set during the perfect Panther Invitational. Her 30 digs against Valparaiso is the most for a player in the Summit League this season. Voegele became the first Tommie in the DI era to record 1,000 career digs, 631 coming in the Purple and Gray.
Lead the Attack
Galvin and Rudzitis have powered the offense through the first 10 matches, both ranking among the top 10 of the Summit League in kills per set. Galvin is fifth with 3.43 kills per set and fourth with 3.84 points per set while Rudzitis is eighth with 3.14 kills per set and ninth with a .258 hitting percentage. Galvin has led the Tommies in kills during six matches this season while Rudzitis has led in five matches, including the past two against Iowa and Milwaukee.
Adding to the offensive attack is Gustafson who is 19th in the Summit League with 2.30 kills per set and 23rd with 2.61 points per set. She has led the Tommies in kills during two matches, tying Rudzitis against Iowa and Milwaukee. Gustafson has also been reliable on the defensive end as she is 14th in the league with 2.63 digs per set, recording her sixth career double double and first of the season with 15 kills and 10 digs at Milwaukee.
Welcome to 2024
Head Coach Thanh Pham leads Tommie Volleyball into action for the 22nd season overall and fourth in NCAA Division I play. Joining Pham on the sidelines is assistant coaches Joy Tietz in her fourth season (14th overall at St. Thomas) and Malissa LeClaire and Kevin Rivas in their third seasons. St. Thomas comes off a 7-20 campaign in 2023, including a 3-13 mark in the Summit League. Both win totals marked the most by the program since joining the DI ranks.
The Purple bring back 18 student-athletes from a season ago and introduce one newcomer in true freshman outside hitter Maddy Benka. Besides Benka and Schmotzer, all 18 Tommie returners saw action in 2023.
Summit League Peak Performers of the Week
Senior outside hitter Lauren Galvin and junior defensive specialist/libero Ella Voegele, the St. Thomas Players to Watch as announced by the Summit League in the Preseason Coaches' Poll, became the first Tommie duo to sweep Summit League Peak Performer of the Week honors following its 3-0 weekend at the Tommie Invitational.
Galvin, from Woodbury, Minn., returned to Schoenecker Arena for the first time since Nov. 19, 2022, to earn a spot on the all-tournament team. She led St. Thomas with 4.0 kills per set and 4.5 points per set while hitting .242 from the floor. Galvin recorded two double doubles over the weekend with 18 kills and 14 digs against Valparaiso and 15 kills and 10 digs against NIU. She also totaled 15 kills with no errors for a .417 hitting percentage in a sweep over Tarleton State.
Voegele, hailing from Plymouth, Minn., earned her second career Summit League Defensive Peak Performer of the Week honor after surpassing the 1,000-career dig mark at the Tommie Invitational. She led the Tommies with 5.92 digs per set and recorded the program's second 30-dig match since joining DI, nothing 30 in the 3-2 win over Valpo.
Summit League Network
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.
Follow Along
For more information on St. Thomas Volleyball, follow along on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram at @tommievball
Join Us
To reserve your seat to be a part of the Tommies' 2024 season, click HERE to view ticketing information and purchase options.
-- St. Thomas Athletics --
Both matches will feature Live Stats HERE.
Toms On a Roll
St. Thomas volleyball has been on a roll over its past seven matches, going 6-1 over that stretch. The Tommies' six wins is one shy of its Division I single season record and is the second most in the Summit League this season. The play of previous Summit League Peak Performers of the Week Lauren Galvin (Offensive/Sept. 10) and Ella Voegele (Defensive/Sept. 10) guided St. Thomas to a 3-0 weekend at the Tommie Invitational Sept. 5-7, claiming its first tournament title of the DI era.
The lone blemish over the past seven matches came at No. 19 Minnesota as St. Thomas fell in three sets (20-25, 16-25, 21-25). Morgan Kealy recorded her fourth double-double of the season as the Purple made late charges against the Gophers.
St. Thomas was perfect and won its second straight non-conference tournament title following wins over Illinois State, Iowa and Milwaukee at the Panther Invitational in Milwaukee, Wis. The victory against Iowa was the first ever for the program over a Power Five team. Kealy racked up 43 assists while Voegele totaled 28 digs in the four set match. Ellie Gustafson and Tezra Rudzitis led the Tommies with 14 kills each before again both tying for the team lead of 15 kills to close the tournament against Milwaukee.
The First Perfect Non-Conference Tournament
The 2024 Tommie Invitational Volleyball Tournament was a success as the home team came away with a perfect 3-0 record, claiming the tournament title. It's the first tournament title and first three match winning streak during the DI era.
St. Thomas opened its weekend with a sweep over Tarleton State coming off a stellar offensive attack. The Tommies hit .295 on the offensive end with only 11 errors, the best hitting percentage since Oct. 15, 2022, and the fewest errors since Nov. 12, 2022.
The Tommies carried the momentum over to its match against Valparaiso, winning the first two sets. The Beacons came back to win sets three and four but, the Toms made a late surge and scored four of the final five points to win the fifth set.
Galvin and junior Tezra Rudzitis powered the offense and combined for 32 kills to help St. Thomas to a 3-1 win over NIU. Rudzitis tied a career high 17 kills on a .333 hitting percentage.
Seeing Double-Double(s)
Galvin and Kealy have been productive on both ends of the court while combining for nine of the team's 10 double doubles through 10 St. Thomas matches this season. The duo has also combined for 29 career double-doubles.
Kealy doubled her season double-double totaled over the past week with three in four matches. After recording 20 assists with 10 digs at No. 19 Minnesota, Kealy added 39 assists and 10 digs against Illinois State and 42 assists and 10 digs at Milwaukee, bringing her career total to 14 double-doubles. As part of her final double-double, Kealy topped the 1,000 career assist mark to become the first Tommie to do so during the DI era. Galvin recorded back-to-back double-doubles, now at 15 through her career, to close out the Tommie Invitational with 18 kills and 14 digs against Valpo and 15 kills and 10 digs against NIU.
Meet Us at the Net
Megan Wetter continues to serve as the Tommies' top attack stuffer as she ranks sixth in the Summit League with 1.06 blocks per set. She has led St. Thomas in blocks seven times and holds the league's third-most single-match blocks this season with nine against Valparaiso.
At the season-opening CEFCU Invitational, redshirt freshman Addie Schmotzer flashed her potential on the defensive end while leading the team with 11.0 total blocks. She began her collegiate career with six block assists against Southern Indiana and has led the Tommies in blocks in five matches. Schmotzer ranks 13th in the Summit League with 0.73 blocks per set.
Can You Dig It?
Voegele and the defense of the Tommies has the team near the top nationally in digs, ranking 12th overall and first in the Summit League with 17.62 per set. Voegele ranks eighth nationally and leads the league with 5.38 digs per set after totaling 4.83 digs per set during the perfect Panther Invitational. Her 30 digs against Valparaiso is the most for a player in the Summit League this season. Voegele became the first Tommie in the DI era to record 1,000 career digs, 631 coming in the Purple and Gray.
Lead the Attack
Galvin and Rudzitis have powered the offense through the first 10 matches, both ranking among the top 10 of the Summit League in kills per set. Galvin is fifth with 3.43 kills per set and fourth with 3.84 points per set while Rudzitis is eighth with 3.14 kills per set and ninth with a .258 hitting percentage. Galvin has led the Tommies in kills during six matches this season while Rudzitis has led in five matches, including the past two against Iowa and Milwaukee.
Adding to the offensive attack is Gustafson who is 19th in the Summit League with 2.30 kills per set and 23rd with 2.61 points per set. She has led the Tommies in kills during two matches, tying Rudzitis against Iowa and Milwaukee. Gustafson has also been reliable on the defensive end as she is 14th in the league with 2.63 digs per set, recording her sixth career double double and first of the season with 15 kills and 10 digs at Milwaukee.
Welcome to 2024
Head Coach Thanh Pham leads Tommie Volleyball into action for the 22nd season overall and fourth in NCAA Division I play. Joining Pham on the sidelines is assistant coaches Joy Tietz in her fourth season (14th overall at St. Thomas) and Malissa LeClaire and Kevin Rivas in their third seasons. St. Thomas comes off a 7-20 campaign in 2023, including a 3-13 mark in the Summit League. Both win totals marked the most by the program since joining the DI ranks.
The Purple bring back 18 student-athletes from a season ago and introduce one newcomer in true freshman outside hitter Maddy Benka. Besides Benka and Schmotzer, all 18 Tommie returners saw action in 2023.
Summit League Peak Performers of the Week
Senior outside hitter Lauren Galvin and junior defensive specialist/libero Ella Voegele, the St. Thomas Players to Watch as announced by the Summit League in the Preseason Coaches' Poll, became the first Tommie duo to sweep Summit League Peak Performer of the Week honors following its 3-0 weekend at the Tommie Invitational.
Galvin, from Woodbury, Minn., returned to Schoenecker Arena for the first time since Nov. 19, 2022, to earn a spot on the all-tournament team. She led St. Thomas with 4.0 kills per set and 4.5 points per set while hitting .242 from the floor. Galvin recorded two double doubles over the weekend with 18 kills and 14 digs against Valparaiso and 15 kills and 10 digs against NIU. She also totaled 15 kills with no errors for a .417 hitting percentage in a sweep over Tarleton State.
Voegele, hailing from Plymouth, Minn., earned her second career Summit League Defensive Peak Performer of the Week honor after surpassing the 1,000-career dig mark at the Tommie Invitational. She led the Tommies with 5.92 digs per set and recorded the program's second 30-dig match since joining DI, nothing 30 in the 3-2 win over Valpo.
Summit League Network
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.
Follow Along
For more information on St. Thomas Volleyball, follow along on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram at @tommievball
Join Us
To reserve your seat to be a part of the Tommies' 2024 season, click HERE to view ticketing information and purchase options.
-- St. Thomas Athletics --
Players Mentioned
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