University of St. Thomas Athletics
Friday, September 18
Milwaukee, Wis.
2:00 p.m. CT
2-6,0-0Summit League
2
vs
3
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Western Michigan
7-3,0-0MAC
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Mich. | 22 | 25 | 25 | 21 | 16 | 3 |
| St. Thomas (MN) | 25 | 21 | 21 | 25 | 14 | 2 |
Anya Schmidt attacks the ball on one of her program-record 25 kills Friday, Sept. 18, 2026 versus Western Michigan
Photo by: Collin Boyles
Schmidt sets Volleyball’s kills, points records in loss to Western Michigan
9/18/2026 6:07:00 PM | Volleyball
Sophomore outside hitter led St. Thomas with 25 kills while three Tommies total double-doubles
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Sophomore Anya Schmidt broke St. Thomas volleyball Division I program single-match records with 29 points and 25 kills Friday afternoon during a near-comeback 3-2 loss (25-22, 21-25, 21-25, 25-21, 14-16) to Western Michigan to start the Marquette Tournament. Seniors Ellie Gustafson and Morgan Kealy, along with junior Audrey Kocon, each added double-doubles at Al McGuire Center in Milwaukee, Wis.
TOP TOMMIES
Anya Schmidt
- Set Division I program records with 29 points and 25 kills, adding three aces and one solo block.
- The previous single-match kills record of 23 was completed three times, twice by Lauren Galvin in 2024 and again by Tezra Rudzitis in 2025.
- The previous points record was set by Galvin against South Dakota in four sets in 2024.
Morgan Kealy
- Recorded a season-high 51 assists, her third 50-assist match and the fourth most in a match for the program.
- Achieved season highs 10.0 points and 5 blocks.
- Totaled 11 digs for her fourth double-double of the season and 50th of her career, and added 7 kills near a triple-double.
Ellie Gustafson
- Totaled 11 kills and 11 digs for her third double-double of the season and 22nd of her career.
- Second on the team with 13.0 points, adding 4 block assists.
Audrey Kocon
- Totaled 12 digs and 10 kills for her second double-double of the season and 18th of her career.
Addie Schmotzer
- Finished with 12.5 points coming off 9 kills, 5 block assists and 1 solo block.
- Hit .308 with one error coming on 26 total attacks.
Taylor McNear
- Achieved a career-high total of 24 digs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Tommies answered a 20-19 deficit in the opening set by taking five of the next six points, moving ahead 21-20 on a Schmidt block and reaching set point on Addie Schmotzer's kill. Earlier, the Tommies won seven of eight rallies to turn a 4-3 deficit into a 10-5 lead. Ellie Gustafson finished the set with a kill from Kealy for a 25-22 Tommies win.
In the second set, the Tommies recovered from a 5-3 deficit, moving ahead 8-6 behind kills from Schmotzer, Schmidt, Kealy, and Gustafson plus Schmidt ace. Western Michigan later went in front 15-10, and the Tommies answered with an Audrey Kocon kill and back-to-back Schmidt kills to get within 15-13, then closed a 20-14 gap to 20-18 with three more Schmidt kills and a block by Schmotzer and Kealy. Western Michigan held off the push and took the set 25-21.
Early in the third set, the Tommies created separation, winning seven of eight rallies from a 2-2 tie to move ahead 9-3 behind kills from Schmidt, Schmotzer, and Kealy. Western Michigan answered by tying the set at 11-11 and moving in front at 12-11, and the Tommies could not get back even after that point. Gustafson had back-to-back late kills as the Tommies fought off set point, but Western Michigan finished the set 25-21.
Facing a 14-12 deficit in the fourth set, the Tommies answered with five straight points, tying it on a Gustafson-Reilly Kurth block and moving in front on a Gustafson kill before McNear added an ace. After Western Michigan tied it at 17-17 and again at 18-18, the Tommies scored four of the final five points from 21-20, with Schmotzer delivering a kill and the final block to close a 25-21 set win.
In the fifth set, the Tommies erased a 14-11 deficit, using Kealy's block and two Western Michigan attack errors to tie it at 14-14. Western Michigan answered with a Tommies service error and a Bri Zimmerman kill to take the set 16-14.
UP NEXT
Up next, Tommie Volleyball faces the host Marquette Saturday, Sept. 19, at 2 p.m.
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
- Set Division I program records with 29 points and 25 kills, adding three aces and one solo block.
- The previous single-match kills record of 23 was completed three times, twice by Lauren Galvin in 2024 and again by Tezra Rudzitis in 2025.
- The previous points record was set by Galvin against South Dakota in four sets in 2024.
Morgan Kealy
- Recorded a season-high 51 assists, her third 50-assist match and the fourth most in a match for the program.
- Achieved season highs 10.0 points and 5 blocks.
- Totaled 11 digs for her fourth double-double of the season and 50th of her career, and added 7 kills near a triple-double.
Ellie Gustafson
- Totaled 11 kills and 11 digs for her third double-double of the season and 22nd of her career.
- Second on the team with 13.0 points, adding 4 block assists.
Audrey Kocon
- Totaled 12 digs and 10 kills for her second double-double of the season and 18th of her career.
Addie Schmotzer
- Finished with 12.5 points coming off 9 kills, 5 block assists and 1 solo block.
- Hit .308 with one error coming on 26 total attacks.
Taylor McNear
- Achieved a career-high total of 24 digs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Tommies answered a 20-19 deficit in the opening set by taking five of the next six points, moving ahead 21-20 on a Schmidt block and reaching set point on Addie Schmotzer's kill. Earlier, the Tommies won seven of eight rallies to turn a 4-3 deficit into a 10-5 lead. Ellie Gustafson finished the set with a kill from Kealy for a 25-22 Tommies win.
In the second set, the Tommies recovered from a 5-3 deficit, moving ahead 8-6 behind kills from Schmotzer, Schmidt, Kealy, and Gustafson plus Schmidt ace. Western Michigan later went in front 15-10, and the Tommies answered with an Audrey Kocon kill and back-to-back Schmidt kills to get within 15-13, then closed a 20-14 gap to 20-18 with three more Schmidt kills and a block by Schmotzer and Kealy. Western Michigan held off the push and took the set 25-21.
Early in the third set, the Tommies created separation, winning seven of eight rallies from a 2-2 tie to move ahead 9-3 behind kills from Schmidt, Schmotzer, and Kealy. Western Michigan answered by tying the set at 11-11 and moving in front at 12-11, and the Tommies could not get back even after that point. Gustafson had back-to-back late kills as the Tommies fought off set point, but Western Michigan finished the set 25-21.
Facing a 14-12 deficit in the fourth set, the Tommies answered with five straight points, tying it on a Gustafson-Reilly Kurth block and moving in front on a Gustafson kill before McNear added an ace. After Western Michigan tied it at 17-17 and again at 18-18, the Tommies scored four of the final five points from 21-20, with Schmotzer delivering a kill and the final block to close a 25-21 set win.
In the fifth set, the Tommies erased a 14-11 deficit, using Kealy's block and two Western Michigan attack errors to tie it at 14-14. Western Michigan answered with a Tommies service error and a Bri Zimmerman kill to take the set 16-14.
UP NEXT
Up next, Tommie Volleyball faces the host Marquette Saturday, Sept. 19, at 2 p.m.
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
OH
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
RS/S
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
DS/L
/ Volleyball
RS
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
MB
/ VolleyballTeam Stats
WMU
UST
Kills
64
66
Errors
28
22
Attempts
175
185
Hitting %
.206
.238
Points
80.0
84.0
Assists
61
65
Aces
6
7
Blocks
10
11
Game Leaders
Kills
25
Aces
3
Blocks
1
Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
10
Aces
1
Blocks
1
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
6
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