University of St. Thomas Athletics
Saturday, October 3
St. Paul, Minn.
12:00 p.m. CT
3-10,1-3Summit League
2
vs
3
South Dakota State
6-8,2-1Summit League
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota St. | 18 | 25 | 23 | 28 | 15 | 3 |
| St. Thomas (MN) | 25 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 13 | 2 |
The St. Thomas volleyball team huddles during a timeout in front of a packed crowd at Schoenecker Arena
Tommies fall on wrong side of thrilling five-set match versus Jackrabbits
10/3/2026 3:29:00 PM | Volleyball
Kealy surpassed 1,000 career digs while Schmidt tied program’s single-match kill record in close loss
ST. PAUL, Minn. —Saturday proved to be a thrilling matchup as St. Thomas fell on the wrong end of a five-setter (25-18, 23-25, 25-23, 26-28, 13-15) against South Dakota State on Alumni Day in Schoenecker Arena. Senior Morgan Kealy surpassed 1,000 career digs while sophomore Anya Schmidt tied her program single-match kill record of 25.
TOP TOMMIES
Anya Schmidt
- Led the Tommies with 25 kills, matching her program single-match record set Sept. 18 versus Western Michigan.
- Added 14 digs for her fifth straight double-double and sixth on the season.
- Two solo blocks set a career high and added one block assist.
Morgan Kealy
- Totaled 50 assists and 17 digs for her sixth straight double-double and ninth of the season.
- Reached 1,000 career digs to become the second Tommie of the Division I era to reach the milestone.
- Tied career highs with five total blocks (all assisted) and four service aces, all combining to set a season high 12.5 points.
Addie Schmotzer
- Recorded five block assists, now with back-to-back matches of at least five blocks and seven total on the season.
- Second on the team with 13 kills, two shy of her career high, on a .345 attack percentage.
Ellie Gustafson
- Finished with 9.0 points on 7 kills and 2 service aces, reaching 1,000 career points in her career.
- Totaled 17 digs to tie with Kealy for the team lead.
HOW IT HAPPENED
St. Thomas created separation in the first set by winning seven of eight rallies, turning a 15-12 lead into a 22-13 advantage behind four Schmidt kills and a Kealy ace. SDSU cut into the margin late, but Reilly Kurth and Schmotzer delivered kills in the closing points as St. Thomas finished the set 25-18.
St. Thomas erased multiple five-point deficits in the second set, with Kealy serving four straight points to tie it 10-10 and a later seven-of-eight stretch moving St. Thomas ahead 17-16 after trailing 15-10. St. Thomas was still in front 23-22 late, but the Jackrabbits scored the final three points to take the set 25-23.
St. Thomas erased a 6-3 deficit in the third set with six straight points, getting two Schmidt kills, a Gustafson ace and a Schmotzer kill to move ahead 9-6. After SDSU later went up 22-21, St. Thomas answered with an Audrey Kocon kill and a Kurth-Kocon block, then finished the set on a Gustafson kill and a Kocon-Schmotzer block for a 25-23 win.
St. Thomas turned a 20-18 deficit into a 24-21 lead in the fourth set, with Schmidt recording four kills during that push and Kocon adding the kill that reached set point. The Jacks answered by tying the set at 24-24, and St. Thomas later pulled even again at 26-26 on a service error. SDSU took the final two points to win the set 28-26.
St. Thomas pulled even at 12-12 on a Schmidt kill, but the Jackrabbits scored the next two points and held on for a 15-13 fifth-set finish. Earlier, Kira Brundage's serve helped St. Thomas move from 7-6 down to a 9-7 lead on three straight SDSU attack errors. Schmidt led the late push with kills at 10-9 and 12-12, before the Jacks closed the set on Sylvie Zgonc's kill.
UP NEXT
St. Thomas begins a three-match road trip Friday, Oct. 9 as it takes on Omaha for its lone match of the week.
FOLLOW ALONG
For more information on St. Thomas volleyball, follow along on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram at @tommievball. Tommie Athletics is now available on TikTok at @TommieSports.
JOIN US
To reserve your seat to be a part of the Tommies' 2026 season, click HERE to view ticketing information and purchase options.
-- St. Thomas Athletics --
TOP TOMMIES
Anya Schmidt
- Led the Tommies with 25 kills, matching her program single-match record set Sept. 18 versus Western Michigan.
- Added 14 digs for her fifth straight double-double and sixth on the season.
- Two solo blocks set a career high and added one block assist.
Morgan Kealy
- Totaled 50 assists and 17 digs for her sixth straight double-double and ninth of the season.
- Reached 1,000 career digs to become the second Tommie of the Division I era to reach the milestone.
- Tied career highs with five total blocks (all assisted) and four service aces, all combining to set a season high 12.5 points.
Addie Schmotzer
- Recorded five block assists, now with back-to-back matches of at least five blocks and seven total on the season.
- Second on the team with 13 kills, two shy of her career high, on a .345 attack percentage.
Ellie Gustafson
- Finished with 9.0 points on 7 kills and 2 service aces, reaching 1,000 career points in her career.
- Totaled 17 digs to tie with Kealy for the team lead.
HOW IT HAPPENED
St. Thomas created separation in the first set by winning seven of eight rallies, turning a 15-12 lead into a 22-13 advantage behind four Schmidt kills and a Kealy ace. SDSU cut into the margin late, but Reilly Kurth and Schmotzer delivered kills in the closing points as St. Thomas finished the set 25-18.
St. Thomas erased multiple five-point deficits in the second set, with Kealy serving four straight points to tie it 10-10 and a later seven-of-eight stretch moving St. Thomas ahead 17-16 after trailing 15-10. St. Thomas was still in front 23-22 late, but the Jackrabbits scored the final three points to take the set 25-23.
St. Thomas erased a 6-3 deficit in the third set with six straight points, getting two Schmidt kills, a Gustafson ace and a Schmotzer kill to move ahead 9-6. After SDSU later went up 22-21, St. Thomas answered with an Audrey Kocon kill and a Kurth-Kocon block, then finished the set on a Gustafson kill and a Kocon-Schmotzer block for a 25-23 win.
St. Thomas turned a 20-18 deficit into a 24-21 lead in the fourth set, with Schmidt recording four kills during that push and Kocon adding the kill that reached set point. The Jacks answered by tying the set at 24-24, and St. Thomas later pulled even again at 26-26 on a service error. SDSU took the final two points to win the set 28-26.
St. Thomas pulled even at 12-12 on a Schmidt kill, but the Jackrabbits scored the next two points and held on for a 15-13 fifth-set finish. Earlier, Kira Brundage's serve helped St. Thomas move from 7-6 down to a 9-7 lead on three straight SDSU attack errors. Schmidt led the late push with kills at 10-9 and 12-12, before the Jacks closed the set on Sylvie Zgonc's kill.
UP NEXT
St. Thomas begins a three-match road trip Friday, Oct. 9 as it takes on Omaha for its lone match of the week.
FOLLOW ALONG
For more information on St. Thomas volleyball, follow along on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram at @tommievball. Tommie Athletics is now available on TikTok at @TommieSports.
JOIN US
To reserve your seat to be a part of the Tommies' 2026 season, click HERE to view ticketing information and purchase options.
-- St. Thomas Athletics --
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Players Mentioned
DS/L
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
RS/S
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
MB
/ VolleyballTeam Stats
SDSU
UST
Kills
51
68
Errors
27
31
Attempts
159
197
Hitting %
.151
.188
Points
72.0
85.0
Assists
50
64
Aces
9
7
Blocks
12
10
Game Leaders
Kills
25
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
13
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Kills
7
Aces
2
Blocks
0
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Friday, September 18
Friday, September 18
Tuesday, March 03
Sunday, December 07
