University of St. Thomas Athletics
Saturday, September 12
St. Paul, Minn.
12:00 p.m. CT
vs
Miami (FL)
Junior Audrey Kocon jumps for an attack Friday, Sept. 4, 2026 during a 3-2 loss to UIC in Schoenecker Arena.
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Volleyball to host Miami (FL), play at No. 13 Minnesota this weekend
9/10/2026 11:27:00 AM | Volleyball
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Tommies welcome in first ever Power 4 opponent as part of Diet Coke Classic Sept. 12-13
ST. PAUL, Minn. – After a record-setting crowd to open the 2026 home schedule, the St. Thomas volleyball program prepares for another first as at welcomes in Miami (FL) as the first Power 4 opponent to Schoenecker Arena Saturday, Sept. 12 before traveling across town to take on No. 13 Minnesota as part of the Diet Coke Classic.
The Tommies begin the weekend at 12 p.m. CT in Schoenecker Arena against the Hurricanes, the first time facing an ACC opponent, while the fourth installment of the Tommie/Gopher match starts at 1 p.m. from Maturi Pavilion in Minneapolis.
LIVE MEDIA
Live Stats: vs. Miami (FL) | at Minnesota
Stream/Live Video: vs. Miami (FL) | at Minnesota
SERIES HISTORY
St. Thomas and Minnesota have played three times during the regular season since 2021, all wins in Minneapolis by the Gophers. Most recently, the two played August 31, 2025, a 3-1 (22-25, 20-25, 25-23, 18-25) win by No. 11 Minnesota at Maturi Pavilion. The set win against the Gophers was the first for the program against the cross-town squad in its three matches and the first against a Top 25 ranked opponent - later taking two sets against No. 23 Iowa State to open the 2025 NCAA National Tournament in Minneapolis.
Sophomore Anya Schmidt recorded her first of seven career double-doubles against Minnesota last season with 12 kills and 12 digs, adding 1 service ace for 13.0 points. Senior Ellie Gustafson tacked on 10.5 points with 10 kills and one block assist, while senior Morgan Kealy directed the offense with 37 assists to go along with 9 digs and 3 block assists on the defensive end. During her first career match against the Gophers, Kealy notched a double-double with 20 assists and 10 digs in 2024.
St. Thomas and Miami (FL) have never played. This will be the Tommies' first match ever against an ACC opponent.
WELCOME TO SCHOENECKER, POWER 4
St. Thomas welcomes its first ever Power 4 opponent to Schoenecker Arena on Saturday, Sept. 12 as Miami (FL) makes the trip to St. Paul. The match is part of the Diet Coke Classic, which then features a matchup Sunday, Sept. 13 between St. Thomas and No. 13 Minnesota at Maturi Pavilion in Minneapolis. The Tommies are 2-7 against Power 4 opponents since joining Division I in 2021. The two wins came against Iowa (3-0 | 25-19, 25-23, 24-26, 25-19) Sept. 13, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wis., and over Northwestern (3-0 | 25-15, 25-17, 25-20) in Evanston, Ill.
A RECORD-BREAKING HOME OPENER
St. Thomas began its home schedule Sept. 3-5 with the Tommie Invitational Volleyball Tournament in Schoenecker Arena, the third time hosting the non-conference tournament since 2023. During the Tommies' opening match Thursday against Montana State, a program-record crowd of 1,254 witnessed the team's first win of the season, a 3-1 victory (27-25, 25-27, 25-18, 25-15).
Kealy was named to the All-Tournament Team after averaging 9.54 assists, 2.08 digs and 0.53 blocks per set, and surpassing 3,000 career assists during the finale against Milwaukee. She added two double-doubles on the weekend, now at 49 in her career.
LET'S GET READY TO RUMBLE
St. Thomas got its 2026 campaign started with the Rumble in the Rockies August 29-30 in Laramie, Wyo., hosted by the University of Wyoming. The Tommies began the tournament with a 3-2 loss (17-25, 19-25, 25-20, 25-22, 15-17) to Texas Tech at Arena-Auditorium. Gustafson and Kealy each tallied a double-double, Gustafson with a team-high 13 kills and 10 digs and Kealy with 39 assists and 12 digs. Senior Taylor McNear paced the defense with 23 digs while senior Addie Schmotzer protected the net with a career-high 8 blocks, including 2 solo. Schmotzer's blocks led a charge of 13 for the Tommies compared to 11 for the Red Raiders, snapping a streak of 15 consecutive wins for the Purple when outblocking their opponent. Freshman Kira Brundage added 3 service aces with 14 digs during her St. Thomas debut.
The Tommies followed with a 3-0 loss (20-25, 21-25, 17-25) to the host Cowgirls, who normally play their home matches at UniWyo Sports Complex. Transfer junior Audrey Kocon and sophomore Anya Schmidt led the Tommies with nine kills each and both added one service ace. Schmotzer and sophomore Reilly Kurth each totaled six kills while Kurth hit .500 and Schmotzer hit .462 from the floor.
BUILDING OFF A CHAMPIONSHIP BREAKTHROUGH
St. Thomas enters the 2026 season following the most accomplished campaign in program history. The Tommies finished 21-10, their winningest season of the Division I era, captured their first Summit League Tournament championship and earned the program's first NCAA Division I Tournament berth. St. Thomas defeated No. 6 seed Omaha (3-0), No. 2 seed South Dakota (3-2) and No. 1 seed South Dakota State (3-1) to claim the league tournament title before taking nationally ranked Iowa State to five sets in the NCAA Tournament.
NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED IN THE STATSHEET
The Tommies finished the 2025 season among the nation's top 20 teams in total service aces, aces per set, kills per set and assists per set. St. Thomas ranked eighth nationally in total aces, 10th in aces per set, 15th in kills per set and 17th in assists per set. The Tommies also led the Summit League in points, assists, kills and aces per set.
POWER FOUR SUCCESS
St. Thomas enters 2026 having already established itself against Power Four competition. The Tommies earned the program's second Power Four and Big Ten victory with a 3-0 sweep at Northwestern in 2025 and also claimed the program's first set against a nationally ranked opponent by taking a set from No. 11 Minnesota, before taking two sets against No. 23 Iowa State to open the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
A PROGRAM ON THE RISE
The Tommies posted a program-best in-season RPI of 69 in 2025 and finished the season ranked No. 73. St. Thomas also played five NCAA Tournament teams during the regular season - Cal Poly, Campbell, Iowa State, Minnesota and South Dakota State.
PREDICTING THE 2026 SUMMIT LEAGUE
St. Thomas was selected to finish tied for second in the 2026 Summit League Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll, receiving 41 points and one first-place vote. The Tommies, who finished 21-10 overall and 11-5 in league play along with the program's first Summit League Tournament Championship in 2025, share the No. 2 spot with South Dakota and trail only preseason favorite South Dakota State. Senior setter Morgan Kealy and sophomore outside hitter Anya Schmidt were named St. Thomas' Players to Watch entering the 2026 season. Kealy is a two-time Summit League Setter of the Year, while Schmidt was the 2025 Summit League Freshman of the Year.
YEAR 4 FOR #5
Senior setter Morgan Kealy returns after another record-setting season in 2025. Kealy earned her second consecutive Summit League Setter of the Year honor and was named the Summit League Tournament MVP. She set the St. Thomas single-season record with 1,159 assists, ranking 30th nationally, and owns the top three single-season assist totals in program history. Kealy also contributed 371 digs, 98 kills, 38 aces and 45 blocks while her 10.08 assists per set ranked third in the Summit League.
THE PROGRAM'S ALL-TIME SETTER
Kealy is St. Thomas' career leader in assists with 3,041, which ranks 11th among active athletes in NCAA Division I, and with 9.05 assists per set. She is also second on the program's Division I career list in digs with 925 and fourth in career aces with 78. Kealy became the first Tommie of the Division I era to record a triple-double when she posted 11 kills, 41 assists and 12 digs at Denver while she also ranks fifth in total blocks (127), sixth in solo blocks (14) and eighth in career points (376.5) in program history.
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR BECOMES A SOPHOMORE
After one of the most decorated freshman seasons in program history, sophomore Anya Schmidt returns as one of the Tommies' top offensive and serving threats. Schmidt was named Summit League Freshman of the Year and to the All-Freshman Team after ranking 10th nationally in total service aces and 19th in aces per set. She also tied a Summit League record with 10 aces in a four-set match.
SCHMIDT AT THE LINE AND THE NET
Schmidt's serving was among the most productive in the country as a freshman. Schmidt's 58 service aces in 2025 set a program single-season record and rank first in the program's history for aces per set (0.50). Her 342 kills and 419.0 points in 2025 each rank second in a single season, while her 399 career kills and 489.0 points already rank fifth during the DI era. Schmidt also owns the program's top four Division I-era single-match ace performances, highlighted by 10 aces at Oral Roberts.
SCHMOTZER RETURNS IN THE MIDDLE
Senior middle blocker Addie Schmotzer returns after starting 26 of 30 matches in 2025. She recorded 124 kills and 61 total blocks while averaging 0.58 blocks per set. Into her third season, Schmotzer ranks second in career solo blocks (36), fourth in total blocks (170) and fourth in block assists (134). Her 2025 season included 14 solo blocks and 82 total blocks, both ranking among the top five single-season marks in the Division I era. She also ranks seventh in career kills with 306.
ALL ABOARD THE GUS BUS
Senior outside hitter Ellie Gustafson enters her fourth season ranked among the program's most productive offensive players in the Division I era. Gustafson ranks third in career kills (812), fourth in career digs (821) and fourth in career points (918.0), while her 67 career service aces rank fifth. Her 2025 season also placed her in the program's single-season top 10 in kills (295), points (338.5), digs (270), aces (29), kills per set (2.57) and points per set (2.94).
DEFENSIVE DEPTH
Senior Taylor McNear returns for her second season with the Tommies after appearing in 16 matches as a defensive specialist in 2025. McNear recorded 26 digs with a .929 reception percentage while providing depth to a St. Thomas defense that ranked second in the Summit League in team digs. Before joining the Tommies, she recorded 178 digs in 2024 at Appalachian State.
NEW FACES IN ST. PAUL
The Tommies welcome a six-player group of newcomers to the 2026 roster, including freshmen Bryn Lunski, Ella Thorson, Kira Brundage and Maddy Jones, along with fifth-year transfer Sophia Del Valle and junior transfer Audrey Kocon. Lunski earned 2025 Class AAAA All-State recognition after a four-time All-Metro West Conference career at Chanhassen, while Thorson was a 2025 Class AA All-State selection who set a St. Croix Prep school record with 1,985 career assists. Jones earned 6A SIC First Team All-Conference and AVCA All-Region honors at Eagle High School in Idaho. Del Valle joins St. Thomas from Presbyterian, while Kocon arrives from Providence.
SOPHOMORES READY FOR THEIR DEBUT
Three sophomores enter 2026 looking to make their collegiate debuts after redshirting the 2025 season: middle blockers Heidi Wingate and Reilly Kurth, along with right side Addison Menefee. Wingate led her district in blocks and hitting percentage for two consecutive seasons at Seven Lakes High School, recording 106 blocks and a .385 hitting percentage in 2024. Kurth was a two-time 4A state champion at Wayzata and earned two All-Lake Conference selections, while Menefee helped Ridge Point High School to a District 20-6A championship and earned All-District honorable mention recognition.
LAST YEAR'S SUMMIT LEAGUE STATISTICAL LEADERS
The Tommies featured several of the Summit League's top individual performers in 2025. Senior setter Morgan Kealy led the league in total assists (1,159) and ranked third in assists per set (10.08), while also ranking eighth in digs per set (3.23) and 10th in aces per set (0.33). Sophomore outside hitter Anya Schmidt led the league in both total service aces (58) and aces per set (0.53) while also ranking among the league's top 10 in kills per set (2.96) and points per set (3.66). Senior middle blocker Addie Schmotzer ranked 18th in total blocks (59) and 24th in blocks per set (0.58), while senior outside hitter Ellie Gustafson ranked 15th in kills per set (2.57), digs per set (2.35) and points per set (2.94).
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 --
The Tommies begin the weekend at 12 p.m. CT in Schoenecker Arena against the Hurricanes, the first time facing an ACC opponent, while the fourth installment of the Tommie/Gopher match starts at 1 p.m. from Maturi Pavilion in Minneapolis.
LIVE MEDIA
Live Stats: vs. Miami (FL) | at Minnesota
Stream/Live Video: vs. Miami (FL) | at Minnesota
SERIES HISTORY
St. Thomas and Minnesota have played three times during the regular season since 2021, all wins in Minneapolis by the Gophers. Most recently, the two played August 31, 2025, a 3-1 (22-25, 20-25, 25-23, 18-25) win by No. 11 Minnesota at Maturi Pavilion. The set win against the Gophers was the first for the program against the cross-town squad in its three matches and the first against a Top 25 ranked opponent - later taking two sets against No. 23 Iowa State to open the 2025 NCAA National Tournament in Minneapolis.
Sophomore Anya Schmidt recorded her first of seven career double-doubles against Minnesota last season with 12 kills and 12 digs, adding 1 service ace for 13.0 points. Senior Ellie Gustafson tacked on 10.5 points with 10 kills and one block assist, while senior Morgan Kealy directed the offense with 37 assists to go along with 9 digs and 3 block assists on the defensive end. During her first career match against the Gophers, Kealy notched a double-double with 20 assists and 10 digs in 2024.
St. Thomas and Miami (FL) have never played. This will be the Tommies' first match ever against an ACC opponent.
WELCOME TO SCHOENECKER, POWER 4
St. Thomas welcomes its first ever Power 4 opponent to Schoenecker Arena on Saturday, Sept. 12 as Miami (FL) makes the trip to St. Paul. The match is part of the Diet Coke Classic, which then features a matchup Sunday, Sept. 13 between St. Thomas and No. 13 Minnesota at Maturi Pavilion in Minneapolis. The Tommies are 2-7 against Power 4 opponents since joining Division I in 2021. The two wins came against Iowa (3-0 | 25-19, 25-23, 24-26, 25-19) Sept. 13, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wis., and over Northwestern (3-0 | 25-15, 25-17, 25-20) in Evanston, Ill.
A RECORD-BREAKING HOME OPENER
St. Thomas began its home schedule Sept. 3-5 with the Tommie Invitational Volleyball Tournament in Schoenecker Arena, the third time hosting the non-conference tournament since 2023. During the Tommies' opening match Thursday against Montana State, a program-record crowd of 1,254 witnessed the team's first win of the season, a 3-1 victory (27-25, 25-27, 25-18, 25-15).
Kealy was named to the All-Tournament Team after averaging 9.54 assists, 2.08 digs and 0.53 blocks per set, and surpassing 3,000 career assists during the finale against Milwaukee. She added two double-doubles on the weekend, now at 49 in her career.
LET'S GET READY TO RUMBLE
St. Thomas got its 2026 campaign started with the Rumble in the Rockies August 29-30 in Laramie, Wyo., hosted by the University of Wyoming. The Tommies began the tournament with a 3-2 loss (17-25, 19-25, 25-20, 25-22, 15-17) to Texas Tech at Arena-Auditorium. Gustafson and Kealy each tallied a double-double, Gustafson with a team-high 13 kills and 10 digs and Kealy with 39 assists and 12 digs. Senior Taylor McNear paced the defense with 23 digs while senior Addie Schmotzer protected the net with a career-high 8 blocks, including 2 solo. Schmotzer's blocks led a charge of 13 for the Tommies compared to 11 for the Red Raiders, snapping a streak of 15 consecutive wins for the Purple when outblocking their opponent. Freshman Kira Brundage added 3 service aces with 14 digs during her St. Thomas debut.
The Tommies followed with a 3-0 loss (20-25, 21-25, 17-25) to the host Cowgirls, who normally play their home matches at UniWyo Sports Complex. Transfer junior Audrey Kocon and sophomore Anya Schmidt led the Tommies with nine kills each and both added one service ace. Schmotzer and sophomore Reilly Kurth each totaled six kills while Kurth hit .500 and Schmotzer hit .462 from the floor.
BUILDING OFF A CHAMPIONSHIP BREAKTHROUGH
St. Thomas enters the 2026 season following the most accomplished campaign in program history. The Tommies finished 21-10, their winningest season of the Division I era, captured their first Summit League Tournament championship and earned the program's first NCAA Division I Tournament berth. St. Thomas defeated No. 6 seed Omaha (3-0), No. 2 seed South Dakota (3-2) and No. 1 seed South Dakota State (3-1) to claim the league tournament title before taking nationally ranked Iowa State to five sets in the NCAA Tournament.
NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED IN THE STATSHEET
The Tommies finished the 2025 season among the nation's top 20 teams in total service aces, aces per set, kills per set and assists per set. St. Thomas ranked eighth nationally in total aces, 10th in aces per set, 15th in kills per set and 17th in assists per set. The Tommies also led the Summit League in points, assists, kills and aces per set.
POWER FOUR SUCCESS
St. Thomas enters 2026 having already established itself against Power Four competition. The Tommies earned the program's second Power Four and Big Ten victory with a 3-0 sweep at Northwestern in 2025 and also claimed the program's first set against a nationally ranked opponent by taking a set from No. 11 Minnesota, before taking two sets against No. 23 Iowa State to open the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
A PROGRAM ON THE RISE
The Tommies posted a program-best in-season RPI of 69 in 2025 and finished the season ranked No. 73. St. Thomas also played five NCAA Tournament teams during the regular season - Cal Poly, Campbell, Iowa State, Minnesota and South Dakota State.
PREDICTING THE 2026 SUMMIT LEAGUE
St. Thomas was selected to finish tied for second in the 2026 Summit League Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll, receiving 41 points and one first-place vote. The Tommies, who finished 21-10 overall and 11-5 in league play along with the program's first Summit League Tournament Championship in 2025, share the No. 2 spot with South Dakota and trail only preseason favorite South Dakota State. Senior setter Morgan Kealy and sophomore outside hitter Anya Schmidt were named St. Thomas' Players to Watch entering the 2026 season. Kealy is a two-time Summit League Setter of the Year, while Schmidt was the 2025 Summit League Freshman of the Year.
YEAR 4 FOR #5
Senior setter Morgan Kealy returns after another record-setting season in 2025. Kealy earned her second consecutive Summit League Setter of the Year honor and was named the Summit League Tournament MVP. She set the St. Thomas single-season record with 1,159 assists, ranking 30th nationally, and owns the top three single-season assist totals in program history. Kealy also contributed 371 digs, 98 kills, 38 aces and 45 blocks while her 10.08 assists per set ranked third in the Summit League.
THE PROGRAM'S ALL-TIME SETTER
Kealy is St. Thomas' career leader in assists with 3,041, which ranks 11th among active athletes in NCAA Division I, and with 9.05 assists per set. She is also second on the program's Division I career list in digs with 925 and fourth in career aces with 78. Kealy became the first Tommie of the Division I era to record a triple-double when she posted 11 kills, 41 assists and 12 digs at Denver while she also ranks fifth in total blocks (127), sixth in solo blocks (14) and eighth in career points (376.5) in program history.
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR BECOMES A SOPHOMORE
After one of the most decorated freshman seasons in program history, sophomore Anya Schmidt returns as one of the Tommies' top offensive and serving threats. Schmidt was named Summit League Freshman of the Year and to the All-Freshman Team after ranking 10th nationally in total service aces and 19th in aces per set. She also tied a Summit League record with 10 aces in a four-set match.
SCHMIDT AT THE LINE AND THE NET
Schmidt's serving was among the most productive in the country as a freshman. Schmidt's 58 service aces in 2025 set a program single-season record and rank first in the program's history for aces per set (0.50). Her 342 kills and 419.0 points in 2025 each rank second in a single season, while her 399 career kills and 489.0 points already rank fifth during the DI era. Schmidt also owns the program's top four Division I-era single-match ace performances, highlighted by 10 aces at Oral Roberts.
SCHMOTZER RETURNS IN THE MIDDLE
Senior middle blocker Addie Schmotzer returns after starting 26 of 30 matches in 2025. She recorded 124 kills and 61 total blocks while averaging 0.58 blocks per set. Into her third season, Schmotzer ranks second in career solo blocks (36), fourth in total blocks (170) and fourth in block assists (134). Her 2025 season included 14 solo blocks and 82 total blocks, both ranking among the top five single-season marks in the Division I era. She also ranks seventh in career kills with 306.
ALL ABOARD THE GUS BUS
Senior outside hitter Ellie Gustafson enters her fourth season ranked among the program's most productive offensive players in the Division I era. Gustafson ranks third in career kills (812), fourth in career digs (821) and fourth in career points (918.0), while her 67 career service aces rank fifth. Her 2025 season also placed her in the program's single-season top 10 in kills (295), points (338.5), digs (270), aces (29), kills per set (2.57) and points per set (2.94).
DEFENSIVE DEPTH
Senior Taylor McNear returns for her second season with the Tommies after appearing in 16 matches as a defensive specialist in 2025. McNear recorded 26 digs with a .929 reception percentage while providing depth to a St. Thomas defense that ranked second in the Summit League in team digs. Before joining the Tommies, she recorded 178 digs in 2024 at Appalachian State.
NEW FACES IN ST. PAUL
The Tommies welcome a six-player group of newcomers to the 2026 roster, including freshmen Bryn Lunski, Ella Thorson, Kira Brundage and Maddy Jones, along with fifth-year transfer Sophia Del Valle and junior transfer Audrey Kocon. Lunski earned 2025 Class AAAA All-State recognition after a four-time All-Metro West Conference career at Chanhassen, while Thorson was a 2025 Class AA All-State selection who set a St. Croix Prep school record with 1,985 career assists. Jones earned 6A SIC First Team All-Conference and AVCA All-Region honors at Eagle High School in Idaho. Del Valle joins St. Thomas from Presbyterian, while Kocon arrives from Providence.
SOPHOMORES READY FOR THEIR DEBUT
Three sophomores enter 2026 looking to make their collegiate debuts after redshirting the 2025 season: middle blockers Heidi Wingate and Reilly Kurth, along with right side Addison Menefee. Wingate led her district in blocks and hitting percentage for two consecutive seasons at Seven Lakes High School, recording 106 blocks and a .385 hitting percentage in 2024. Kurth was a two-time 4A state champion at Wayzata and earned two All-Lake Conference selections, while Menefee helped Ridge Point High School to a District 20-6A championship and earned All-District honorable mention recognition.
LAST YEAR'S SUMMIT LEAGUE STATISTICAL LEADERS
The Tommies featured several of the Summit League's top individual performers in 2025. Senior setter Morgan Kealy led the league in total assists (1,159) and ranked third in assists per set (10.08), while also ranking eighth in digs per set (3.23) and 10th in aces per set (0.33). Sophomore outside hitter Anya Schmidt led the league in both total service aces (58) and aces per set (0.53) while also ranking among the league's top 10 in kills per set (2.96) and points per set (3.66). Senior middle blocker Addie Schmotzer ranked 18th in total blocks (59) and 24th in blocks per set (0.58), while senior outside hitter Ellie Gustafson ranked 15th in kills per set (2.57), digs per set (2.35) and points per set (2.94).
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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