University of St. Thomas Athletics
Thursday, September 24
Fargo, N.D.
7:00 p.m. CT
at
North Dakota State
Photo by: Collin Boyles
Volleyball opens Summit League play at North Dakota State, North Dakota
9/23/2026 9:39:00 AM | Volleyball
Tommies start weekend Thursday against Bison before trip Saturday to face Fighting Hawks
ST. PAUL, Minn. – It's Summit League season for St. Thomas volleyball as it travels Sept. 24-26 to take on North Dakota State and North Dakota. The Tommies begin the conference-opening road trip at 7 p.m. CT Thursday against the Bison before a 1 p.m. CT match Saturday against the Fighting Hawks.
LIVE MEDIA
Live Stats: at North Dakota State | at North Dakota
Stream/Live Video: Summit League Network
SERIES HISTORY
St. Thomas and North Dakota State meet for the 11th time in the series, led by NDSU 8-2. The Tommies swept the Bison for the first time ever during their first meeting of 2025 (25-15, 25-20, 25-20) in St. Paul, which was the 500th career win for Head Coach Thanh Pham at St. Thomas. St. Thomas came away with one set win in the rematch in Fargo, N.D. (25-18, 13-25, 15-25, 22-25). Senior Ellie Gustafson hit 2.00 kills with 2.36 points per set while senior Addie Schmotzer hit 1.57 kills per set on a .250 hitting percentage and added 0.57 blocks per set for 1.86 points per set between both matches against NDSU last season. Senior Morgan Kealy tallied 9.00 assists per set and recorded a near double-double of 33 assists and 9 digs in St. Paul before adding 30 assists and 12 digs in Fargo.
St. Thomas and North Dakota have played 10 times since UST joined the Summit League in 2021, a series led by the Purple 7-3. The Tommies' first ever Summit League win came against the Fighting Hawks, 3-2, on Sept. 30, 2021 in St. Paul. St. Thomas has won five straight against UND, including a 3-1 win (25-16, 31-29, 26-28, 26-24) during the first meeting of 2025 and a 3-1 decision (25-12, 29-31, 25-18, 25-15) in Grand Forks, N.D. Gustafson recorded 4.00 points and 3.38 kills per set on a .344 percentage and added three aces between the two matches. Kealy directed the offense to hit .229 against the Fighting Hawks last year, as she finished with 11.75 assists per set, 5 total blocks and 4 aces, recording double-doubles in each match.
THE FIRST PEAK FOR ANYA
Sophomore outside hitter Anya Schmidt earned her first career Summit League Offensive Peak Performer of the Week honor after a record-setting weekend at the Marquette Tournament. The Rogers, Minn., native led the Tommies with 4.30 kills and 4.75 points per set while hitting .239, adding three aces, 19 digs, two blocks and a .949 serve-receive percentage. Schmidt opened the weekend by setting St. Thomas single-match records with 25 kills and 29 points against Western Michigan, hitting .358 with three aces and a perfect 47-for-47 serve-receive mark. She followed with a team-high 18 kills and 10 digs against Marquette for her third double-double of the season and eighth of her career, extending her streak to seven consecutive matches with at least 12 kills.
NEAR THE SUMMIT THROUGH THE NON-CONFERENCE SEASON
St. Thomas features several Tommies among the top 10 statistically in the Summit League heading into league matches this weekend. Freshman Kira Brundage currently sits second in the league, and 47th nationally, with 0.51 aces per set while three Tommies rank third in their respective categories. Senior Morgan Kealy is third with 9.51 assists per set, sophomore Anya Schmidt is third with 4.11 points per set, and senior Addie Schmotzer is third with 1.11 blocks per set. Senior Taylor McNear is fifth in the league with 3.43 digs per set while Schmidt also ranks top 10 with 3.50 kills per set Schmotzer eighth with a .245 hitting percentage.
As a team, the Tommies rank among the top four in the league in aces per set (2nd/1.81), opponent hitting percentage (3rd/.195), points per set (4th/16.22), assists per set (4th/11.52), kills per set (4th/12.54), and digs per set (4th/13.92).
A POWERFUL STATEMENT AT SCHOENECKER
St. Thomas opened the Diet Coke Classic with a 3-0 sweep of Miami (FL) on Sept. 12 at Schoenecker Arena, winning 25-23, 25-17, 25-19. The win was the first for the Tommies against a Power 4 program in Schoenecker Arena, and the third against a Power program in as many seasons. The Tommies finished with 45 kills and a .221 hitting percentage while limiting the Hurricanes to a .154 attack percentage. Anya Schmidt led St. Thomas with 13 kills, while Ellie Gustafson added 11 and Audrey Kocon recorded 10. Morgan Kealy totaled 42 assists, while Gustafson led the team with 12 digs for her second double-double of the season and 21st of her career, and Kocon followed with 10 digs for her first double-double of the season and 17th in her career. The Tommies also received five kills from Addie Schmotzer and three kills and a career high five block assists from Reilly Kurth in the sweep.
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.
ATTACK, ATTACK, ATTACK
St. Thomas has been active offensively getting off attacks, as the unit ranks 50th in the nation with 35.76 attacks per set. Leading the Tommies is Schmidt with 9.58 attacks per set, which ranks fifth in the Summit League. The Purple's services have shown the same aggression as the team is 58th nationally with 1.81 aces per set, led by Brundage's 0.51 per set and followed by Schmidt with 0.36 aces per set to rank fifth in the Summit League.
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 third Power 4 and first ACC victory with a 3-0 sweep over Miami (FL) on Sept. 12, 2026, after defeating the Big Ten's Northwestern 3-0 last season and taking down Iowa in four sets in 2024. The Tommies claimed the program's first set win against a nationally ranked opponent by taking a set from No. 11 Minnesota in 2025, before taking two sets against No. 23 Iowa State to open the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
This season, St. Thomas pushed No. 13 Minnesota to the brink in each set of a 3-0 loss to close the Diet Coke Classic on Sept. 13, 2026. Anya Schmidt led the Tommies with 13 kills, her fifth straight match with at least 12, while she added one ace and three digs. Reilly Kurth paced the defense at the net with three blocks, marking at least three blocks in three of the past four matches.
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.
Kealy is St. Thomas' career leader in assists with 3,199, which ranks 10th among active athletes in NCAA Division I, and with 9.09assists per set. She is also second on the program's Division I career list in digs with 965 and tied for third in career aces with 79. 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 (137), sixth in solo blocks (15) and eighth in career points (397.0) 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'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 468 career kills and 567.0 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 (42), third in total blocks (184) and fourth in block assists (142). 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 333.
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 (848), fourth in career digs (858) and third in career points (962.0), while her 73 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 --
LIVE MEDIA
Live Stats: at North Dakota State | at North Dakota
Stream/Live Video: Summit League Network
SERIES HISTORY
St. Thomas and North Dakota State meet for the 11th time in the series, led by NDSU 8-2. The Tommies swept the Bison for the first time ever during their first meeting of 2025 (25-15, 25-20, 25-20) in St. Paul, which was the 500th career win for Head Coach Thanh Pham at St. Thomas. St. Thomas came away with one set win in the rematch in Fargo, N.D. (25-18, 13-25, 15-25, 22-25). Senior Ellie Gustafson hit 2.00 kills with 2.36 points per set while senior Addie Schmotzer hit 1.57 kills per set on a .250 hitting percentage and added 0.57 blocks per set for 1.86 points per set between both matches against NDSU last season. Senior Morgan Kealy tallied 9.00 assists per set and recorded a near double-double of 33 assists and 9 digs in St. Paul before adding 30 assists and 12 digs in Fargo.
St. Thomas and North Dakota have played 10 times since UST joined the Summit League in 2021, a series led by the Purple 7-3. The Tommies' first ever Summit League win came against the Fighting Hawks, 3-2, on Sept. 30, 2021 in St. Paul. St. Thomas has won five straight against UND, including a 3-1 win (25-16, 31-29, 26-28, 26-24) during the first meeting of 2025 and a 3-1 decision (25-12, 29-31, 25-18, 25-15) in Grand Forks, N.D. Gustafson recorded 4.00 points and 3.38 kills per set on a .344 percentage and added three aces between the two matches. Kealy directed the offense to hit .229 against the Fighting Hawks last year, as she finished with 11.75 assists per set, 5 total blocks and 4 aces, recording double-doubles in each match.
THE FIRST PEAK FOR ANYA
Sophomore outside hitter Anya Schmidt earned her first career Summit League Offensive Peak Performer of the Week honor after a record-setting weekend at the Marquette Tournament. The Rogers, Minn., native led the Tommies with 4.30 kills and 4.75 points per set while hitting .239, adding three aces, 19 digs, two blocks and a .949 serve-receive percentage. Schmidt opened the weekend by setting St. Thomas single-match records with 25 kills and 29 points against Western Michigan, hitting .358 with three aces and a perfect 47-for-47 serve-receive mark. She followed with a team-high 18 kills and 10 digs against Marquette for her third double-double of the season and eighth of her career, extending her streak to seven consecutive matches with at least 12 kills.
NEAR THE SUMMIT THROUGH THE NON-CONFERENCE SEASON
St. Thomas features several Tommies among the top 10 statistically in the Summit League heading into league matches this weekend. Freshman Kira Brundage currently sits second in the league, and 47th nationally, with 0.51 aces per set while three Tommies rank third in their respective categories. Senior Morgan Kealy is third with 9.51 assists per set, sophomore Anya Schmidt is third with 4.11 points per set, and senior Addie Schmotzer is third with 1.11 blocks per set. Senior Taylor McNear is fifth in the league with 3.43 digs per set while Schmidt also ranks top 10 with 3.50 kills per set Schmotzer eighth with a .245 hitting percentage.
As a team, the Tommies rank among the top four in the league in aces per set (2nd/1.81), opponent hitting percentage (3rd/.195), points per set (4th/16.22), assists per set (4th/11.52), kills per set (4th/12.54), and digs per set (4th/13.92).
A POWERFUL STATEMENT AT SCHOENECKER
St. Thomas opened the Diet Coke Classic with a 3-0 sweep of Miami (FL) on Sept. 12 at Schoenecker Arena, winning 25-23, 25-17, 25-19. The win was the first for the Tommies against a Power 4 program in Schoenecker Arena, and the third against a Power program in as many seasons. The Tommies finished with 45 kills and a .221 hitting percentage while limiting the Hurricanes to a .154 attack percentage. Anya Schmidt led St. Thomas with 13 kills, while Ellie Gustafson added 11 and Audrey Kocon recorded 10. Morgan Kealy totaled 42 assists, while Gustafson led the team with 12 digs for her second double-double of the season and 21st of her career, and Kocon followed with 10 digs for her first double-double of the season and 17th in her career. The Tommies also received five kills from Addie Schmotzer and three kills and a career high five block assists from Reilly Kurth in the sweep.
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.
ATTACK, ATTACK, ATTACK
St. Thomas has been active offensively getting off attacks, as the unit ranks 50th in the nation with 35.76 attacks per set. Leading the Tommies is Schmidt with 9.58 attacks per set, which ranks fifth in the Summit League. The Purple's services have shown the same aggression as the team is 58th nationally with 1.81 aces per set, led by Brundage's 0.51 per set and followed by Schmidt with 0.36 aces per set to rank fifth in the Summit League.
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 third Power 4 and first ACC victory with a 3-0 sweep over Miami (FL) on Sept. 12, 2026, after defeating the Big Ten's Northwestern 3-0 last season and taking down Iowa in four sets in 2024. The Tommies claimed the program's first set win against a nationally ranked opponent by taking a set from No. 11 Minnesota in 2025, before taking two sets against No. 23 Iowa State to open the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
This season, St. Thomas pushed No. 13 Minnesota to the brink in each set of a 3-0 loss to close the Diet Coke Classic on Sept. 13, 2026. Anya Schmidt led the Tommies with 13 kills, her fifth straight match with at least 12, while she added one ace and three digs. Reilly Kurth paced the defense at the net with three blocks, marking at least three blocks in three of the past four matches.
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.
Kealy is St. Thomas' career leader in assists with 3,199, which ranks 10th among active athletes in NCAA Division I, and with 9.09assists per set. She is also second on the program's Division I career list in digs with 965 and tied for third in career aces with 79. 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 (137), sixth in solo blocks (15) and eighth in career points (397.0) 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'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 468 career kills and 567.0 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 (42), third in total blocks (184) and fourth in block assists (142). 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 333.
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 (848), fourth in career digs (858) and third in career points (962.0), while her 73 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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/ Volleyball
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/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
MB
/ VolleyballFriday, September 18
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Monday, December 01
