University of St. Thomas Athletics
Saturday, November 14
St. Paul, Minn.
12:00 p.m. CT
12-11,10-4Summit League
3
vs
2
Kansas City
12-14,6-8Summit League
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | 25 | 26 | 22 | 25 | 11 | 2 |
| St. Thomas (MN) | 19 | 28 | 25 | 16 | 15 | 3 |
Photo by: Kason Zetah
11/14/2026 3:27:00 PM | Volleyball
Ellie Gustafson hits 1,000 career digs as Tommies move head to Summit League Championships
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Senior Ellie Gustafson hit 1,000 career digs Saturday afternoon during a celebration of six seniors as St. Thomas volleyball took down Kansas City 3-2 (19-25, 28-26, 25-22, 16-25, 15-11) in Schoenecker Arena. Sophomore Anya Schmidt paced the offense with 18 kills, senior Morgan Keally directed the offense with 49 assists and senior Taylor McNear recorded a team-high 19 digs as the Tommies finish the regular season 12-11 overall and 10-4 in the Summit League.
TOP TOMMIES
Ellie Gustafson
- Became the third Tommie of the DI era to reach 1,000 career digs with 14 on Saturday
- Hit seven kills and put down a team-high three service aces
Anya Schmidt
- Led the Tommies with 18 kills to go along with 14 digs, her 14th double-double of the season
- Added two service aces
Morgan Kealy
- Totaled 49 assists to go along with 11 digs, her 15th double-double of the season
Audrey Kocon
- Recorded 12 kills with a .556 hitting percentage, her second straight match hitting at least .556
- Totaled a season-high 13 points with one service ace
Taylor McNear
- Led the Tommies with 19 digs
Addie Schmotzer
- Hit .310 from the floor with 12 kills and added two total blocks
- Recorded a hitting percentage of at least .310 in three straight matches
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Tommies worked back from a 10-5 deficit in the first set, using a Kansas City service error, a Gustafson ace and Schmidt kill from Taylor McNear to get within 10-8. After Kansas City later led 20-11, the Tommies got kills from Emory Brosnahan, Schmotzer and Gustafson but dropped the set 25-19.
The Tommies rallied to win the second set 28-26, closing it on a Kansas City attack error after Kocon's kill put the Tommies ahead 27-26. Earlier, the Tommies cut an 11-6 deficit to 12-11 behind kills from Schmotzer and Schmidt, including two straight Schmidt kills. Kansas City later led 24-22, but Schmidt's kill, a Kansas City attack error and Morgan Kealy's service ace moved the Tommies in front before the teams traded points into the final sequence.
The Tommies took control of the third set immediately, scoring the first seven points on Gustafson's serve with kills from Schmidt, Schmotzer and Kealy plus a Gustafson ace. The Tommies later pushed the advantage to 16-4, with Bryn Lunski adding an ace during a stretch in which the home side won seven of eight rallies. Kansas City closed a 24-17 deficit to 24-22, but Kealy finished the 25-22 set win with a kill from Schmidt.
The Tommies' main push came midway through the fourth set, when Kocon had kills on both ends of a four-point run and Schmidt added a service ace to pull within 15-12. Kansas City answered by building the margin back to 22-14, and the Tommies managed only two more points before dropping the set 25-16.
The Tommies opened the fifth set with the first three points, including Schmotzer kill from Kealy, and stayed in front the rest of the way. Schmidt led the closing stretch with kills for the 12th, 13th and 14th points, all assisted by Kealy, before a Kansas City attack error ended the set at 15-11.
UP NEXT
St. Thomas, as the No. 3 seed, and Kansas City, as the No. 6 seed, will meet again to start the 2026 Summit League Championships on Sunday, Nov. 22 in Brookings, S.D.
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
Ellie Gustafson
- Became the third Tommie of the DI era to reach 1,000 career digs with 14 on Saturday
- Hit seven kills and put down a team-high three service aces
Anya Schmidt
- Led the Tommies with 18 kills to go along with 14 digs, her 14th double-double of the season
- Added two service aces
Morgan Kealy
- Totaled 49 assists to go along with 11 digs, her 15th double-double of the season
Audrey Kocon
- Recorded 12 kills with a .556 hitting percentage, her second straight match hitting at least .556
- Totaled a season-high 13 points with one service ace
Taylor McNear
- Led the Tommies with 19 digs
Addie Schmotzer
- Hit .310 from the floor with 12 kills and added two total blocks
- Recorded a hitting percentage of at least .310 in three straight matches
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Tommies worked back from a 10-5 deficit in the first set, using a Kansas City service error, a Gustafson ace and Schmidt kill from Taylor McNear to get within 10-8. After Kansas City later led 20-11, the Tommies got kills from Emory Brosnahan, Schmotzer and Gustafson but dropped the set 25-19.
The Tommies rallied to win the second set 28-26, closing it on a Kansas City attack error after Kocon's kill put the Tommies ahead 27-26. Earlier, the Tommies cut an 11-6 deficit to 12-11 behind kills from Schmotzer and Schmidt, including two straight Schmidt kills. Kansas City later led 24-22, but Schmidt's kill, a Kansas City attack error and Morgan Kealy's service ace moved the Tommies in front before the teams traded points into the final sequence.
The Tommies took control of the third set immediately, scoring the first seven points on Gustafson's serve with kills from Schmidt, Schmotzer and Kealy plus a Gustafson ace. The Tommies later pushed the advantage to 16-4, with Bryn Lunski adding an ace during a stretch in which the home side won seven of eight rallies. Kansas City closed a 24-17 deficit to 24-22, but Kealy finished the 25-22 set win with a kill from Schmidt.
The Tommies' main push came midway through the fourth set, when Kocon had kills on both ends of a four-point run and Schmidt added a service ace to pull within 15-12. Kansas City answered by building the margin back to 22-14, and the Tommies managed only two more points before dropping the set 25-16.
The Tommies opened the fifth set with the first three points, including Schmotzer kill from Kealy, and stayed in front the rest of the way. Schmidt led the closing stretch with kills for the 12th, 13th and 14th points, all assisted by Kealy, before a Kansas City attack error ended the set at 15-11.
UP NEXT
St. Thomas, as the No. 3 seed, and Kansas City, as the No. 6 seed, will meet again to start the 2026 Summit League Championships on Sunday, Nov. 22 in Brookings, S.D.
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 --
Players Mentioned
RS
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
RS/S
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
DS/L
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
MB
/ VolleyballTeam Stats
KC
UST
Kills
59
60
Errors
24
28
Attempts
172
179
Hitting %
.203
.179
Points
79.0
71.0
Assists
58
59
Aces
10
9
Blocks
10
2
Game Leaders
Kills
18
Aces
2
Blocks
1
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
12
Aces
1
Blocks
0
Kills
7
Aces
3
Blocks
0
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