University of St. Thomas Athletics
Thursday, October 1
St. Paul, Minn.
7:00 p.m. CT
vs
South Dakota
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Summit League Volleyball Tournament rematches on deck Oct. 1 and 3
9/30/2026 9:31:00 AM | Volleyball
St. Thomas to face South Dakota and South Dakota State in Schoenecker Arena
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A pair of 2025 Summit League Tournament rematches are on deck for St. Thomas volleyball as it hosts South Dakota Oct. 1 and South Dakota State on Oct. 3 at Schoenecker Arena in St. Paul, Minn. The Tommies and Coyotes play at 7 p.m. Friday before the first meeting between the Tommies and Jackrabbits since last season's Summit League Championship at 12 p.m. Saturday.
LIVE MEDIA
Live Stats: vs South Dakota | vs South Dakota State
Stream/Live Video: Summit League Network
SERIES HISTORY
St. Thomas and South Dakota meet for the 12th time in the series, led by the Coyotes 8-3. South Dakota won both regular-season meetings in 2025, taking a 3-1 decision in Vermillion (22-25, 25-18, 21-25, 19-25) and a 3-0 sweep in St. Paul (21-25, 26-28, 22-25), before the Tommies rallied for a 3-2 victory in the Summit League semifinals (25-22, 22-25, 16-25, 25-19, 15-9) in Brookings, S.D. Sophomore Anya Schmidt averaged 3.00 kills and 3.42 points per set across the three matches against the Coyotes, including 19 kills and 14 digs while hitting .378 in the semifinal matchup Senior Morgan Kealy recorded 8.83 assists per set and added 3.00 digs per set, including a 43-assist, 13-dig effort in the five-set semifinal victory.
St. Thomas and South Dakota State meet for the 12th time in the series, led by the Jackrabbits 9-2. South Dakota State won the first two meetings in 2025, earning a 3-1 victory in Brookings, S.D. (15-25, 25-27, 25-15, 23-25) and a 3-1 win in St. Paul (25-21, 25-27, 16-25, 18-25), before the Tommies defeated the Jackrabbits 3-1 (25-18, 19-25, 25-21, 25-23) in Brookings to advance to the NCAA Tournament to face Iowa State. The victory marked St. Thomas' first Summit League title and added the Tommies' second win in Brookings in as many seasons, the only Summit League team to defeat SDSU in Brookings over the past three seasons. The Tommies join Nebraska in 2026 and Boise State in 2025 as the only three teams overall to win at First Bank & Trust Arena during that span. Schmidt hit 3.58 kills per set with 4.04 points per set, with two double-doubles in the season series, while Kealy averaged 10.42 assists and 3.75 digs per set, including double-doubles in all three meetings. Senior Ellie Gustafson totaled 15 kills on a .406 attack percentage with 10 digs during the first meeting in Brookings.
A TOMMIE REUNION
Saturday's match against South Dakota State will be Alumni Day for the program as it welcomes back Tommies from the past four decades. The returning Tommies have combined for: 13 NCAA Tournament appearances (including 3 national champions), 12 conference regular season championships, 7 conference tournament championships, 7 AVCA All-Americans, 11 all-region honors, 2 conference players of the year, 26 all-conference, 4 conference all-playoff/tournament team selections, 2 AVCA National Players of the Week, and 22 Conference Players of the Week.
In addition, former Tommie Volleyball Head Coach and Assistant Coach Dave Orren will be in attendance. He led the Tommies for 17 seasons (1983-97) which included two MIAC Coach of the Year honors, six NCAA Tournament appearances and four MIAC regular season championships.
BACK TO SUMMIT LEAGUE BUSINESS
A challenging Summit League opening weekend provided the first league win of the season for St. Thomas as it traveled to face North Dakota State and North Dakota. The Tommies and Bison began the weekend going to five sets, ultimately won by NDSU (22-25, 25-13, 25-23, 19-25, 12-15). After going to five sets just three times in 2025, St. Thomas' five-setter at NDSU was the fifth of 2026, in which the Tommies are 0-5. Gustafson, Schmidt and senior Addie Schmotzer each recorded 15 kills at NDSU, marking just the second time a Tommie trio has recorded as many kills in a match during the DI era. The Purple outhit the Bison, .303 to .220, but totaled a season low 3 service aces with 12 service errors.
St. Thomas volleyball earned its first Summit League victory of the season with a 3-1 win (22-25, 25-21, 25-19, 25-12) at North Dakota, taking three consecutive sets after dropping the opener. Sophomore Reilly Kurth posted a career-high nine kills on .438 hitting, while Kealy and Schmidt each recorded their third consecutive double-doubles. Kealy finished with 37 assists and 11 digs for her seventh double-double of the season and 53rd of her career, while Schmidt totaled 10 kills and 10 digs for her fifth double-double of the season and extended her streak to nine consecutive matches with at least 10 kills. Taylor McNear led the Tommies with 20 digs, her third 20-dig performance of the season, while Kira Brundage added three service aces, including two in the fourth set to close the win.
ATTACK, ATTACK, ATTACK
St. Thomas has been active offensively getting off attacks, as the unit ranks 75th in the nation with 35.24 attacks per set. Directing the offensive barrage is Kealy, who ranks 64th in the country with 9.63 assists per set and 65th with 443 total assists. The Purple's services have shown the same aggression as the team is 74th nationally with 1.72 aces per set, led by Brundage's 0.48 per set, second in the Summit League, and followed by Schmidt with 0.31 aces per set to rank ninth in the Summit.
THE FIRST PEAK FOR 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 featured several Tommies among the top 10 statistically in the Summit League heading into league matches Sept. 24-26. Brundage sat second in the league, and 47th nationally, with 0.51 aces per set while three Tommies ranked third in their respective categories. Kealy wa third with 9.51 assists per set, Schmidt was third with 4.11 points per set, and Schmotzer was third with 1.11 blocks per set. Senior Taylor McNear was fifth in the league with 3.43 digs per set while Schmidt also ranked top 10 with 3.50 kills per set and Schmotzer eighth with a .245 hitting percentage.
As a team, the Tommies ranked 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).
After the first weekend of Summit matches, St. Thomas leads the Summit League allowing opposing teams to hit .189 along with the third lowest opponent assists per set (10.80) and opponent kills per set (11.41).
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 Gustafson added 11 and Audrey Kocon recorded 10. 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 Schmotzer and three kills and a career high five block assists from 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 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. Kocon and Schmidt led the Tommies with nine kills each and both added one service ace. Schmotzer and sophomore 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 IN 2025
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 3,290, which ranks 10th among active athletes in NCAA Division I, and with 9.11 assists per set. She is also second on the program's Division I career list in digs with 987 and tied for third in career aces with 80. 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 in 2025 while she also ranks fifth in total blocks (139), sixth in solo blocks (16) and eighth in career points (403.5) 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'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 493 career kills and 595.0 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 (43), third in total blocks (188) and fourth in block assists (145). 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 354.
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 (872), fourth in career digs (887) and third in career points (989.0), while her 76 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.
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
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JOIN US
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-- St. Thomas Athletics --
LIVE MEDIA
Live Stats: vs South Dakota | vs South Dakota State
Stream/Live Video: Summit League Network
SERIES HISTORY
St. Thomas and South Dakota meet for the 12th time in the series, led by the Coyotes 8-3. South Dakota won both regular-season meetings in 2025, taking a 3-1 decision in Vermillion (22-25, 25-18, 21-25, 19-25) and a 3-0 sweep in St. Paul (21-25, 26-28, 22-25), before the Tommies rallied for a 3-2 victory in the Summit League semifinals (25-22, 22-25, 16-25, 25-19, 15-9) in Brookings, S.D. Sophomore Anya Schmidt averaged 3.00 kills and 3.42 points per set across the three matches against the Coyotes, including 19 kills and 14 digs while hitting .378 in the semifinal matchup Senior Morgan Kealy recorded 8.83 assists per set and added 3.00 digs per set, including a 43-assist, 13-dig effort in the five-set semifinal victory.
St. Thomas and South Dakota State meet for the 12th time in the series, led by the Jackrabbits 9-2. South Dakota State won the first two meetings in 2025, earning a 3-1 victory in Brookings, S.D. (15-25, 25-27, 25-15, 23-25) and a 3-1 win in St. Paul (25-21, 25-27, 16-25, 18-25), before the Tommies defeated the Jackrabbits 3-1 (25-18, 19-25, 25-21, 25-23) in Brookings to advance to the NCAA Tournament to face Iowa State. The victory marked St. Thomas' first Summit League title and added the Tommies' second win in Brookings in as many seasons, the only Summit League team to defeat SDSU in Brookings over the past three seasons. The Tommies join Nebraska in 2026 and Boise State in 2025 as the only three teams overall to win at First Bank & Trust Arena during that span. Schmidt hit 3.58 kills per set with 4.04 points per set, with two double-doubles in the season series, while Kealy averaged 10.42 assists and 3.75 digs per set, including double-doubles in all three meetings. Senior Ellie Gustafson totaled 15 kills on a .406 attack percentage with 10 digs during the first meeting in Brookings.
A TOMMIE REUNION
Saturday's match against South Dakota State will be Alumni Day for the program as it welcomes back Tommies from the past four decades. The returning Tommies have combined for: 13 NCAA Tournament appearances (including 3 national champions), 12 conference regular season championships, 7 conference tournament championships, 7 AVCA All-Americans, 11 all-region honors, 2 conference players of the year, 26 all-conference, 4 conference all-playoff/tournament team selections, 2 AVCA National Players of the Week, and 22 Conference Players of the Week.
In addition, former Tommie Volleyball Head Coach and Assistant Coach Dave Orren will be in attendance. He led the Tommies for 17 seasons (1983-97) which included two MIAC Coach of the Year honors, six NCAA Tournament appearances and four MIAC regular season championships.
BACK TO SUMMIT LEAGUE BUSINESS
A challenging Summit League opening weekend provided the first league win of the season for St. Thomas as it traveled to face North Dakota State and North Dakota. The Tommies and Bison began the weekend going to five sets, ultimately won by NDSU (22-25, 25-13, 25-23, 19-25, 12-15). After going to five sets just three times in 2025, St. Thomas' five-setter at NDSU was the fifth of 2026, in which the Tommies are 0-5. Gustafson, Schmidt and senior Addie Schmotzer each recorded 15 kills at NDSU, marking just the second time a Tommie trio has recorded as many kills in a match during the DI era. The Purple outhit the Bison, .303 to .220, but totaled a season low 3 service aces with 12 service errors.
St. Thomas volleyball earned its first Summit League victory of the season with a 3-1 win (22-25, 25-21, 25-19, 25-12) at North Dakota, taking three consecutive sets after dropping the opener. Sophomore Reilly Kurth posted a career-high nine kills on .438 hitting, while Kealy and Schmidt each recorded their third consecutive double-doubles. Kealy finished with 37 assists and 11 digs for her seventh double-double of the season and 53rd of her career, while Schmidt totaled 10 kills and 10 digs for her fifth double-double of the season and extended her streak to nine consecutive matches with at least 10 kills. Taylor McNear led the Tommies with 20 digs, her third 20-dig performance of the season, while Kira Brundage added three service aces, including two in the fourth set to close the win.
ATTACK, ATTACK, ATTACK
St. Thomas has been active offensively getting off attacks, as the unit ranks 75th in the nation with 35.24 attacks per set. Directing the offensive barrage is Kealy, who ranks 64th in the country with 9.63 assists per set and 65th with 443 total assists. The Purple's services have shown the same aggression as the team is 74th nationally with 1.72 aces per set, led by Brundage's 0.48 per set, second in the Summit League, and followed by Schmidt with 0.31 aces per set to rank ninth in the Summit.
THE FIRST PEAK FOR 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 featured several Tommies among the top 10 statistically in the Summit League heading into league matches Sept. 24-26. Brundage sat second in the league, and 47th nationally, with 0.51 aces per set while three Tommies ranked third in their respective categories. Kealy wa third with 9.51 assists per set, Schmidt was third with 4.11 points per set, and Schmotzer was third with 1.11 blocks per set. Senior Taylor McNear was fifth in the league with 3.43 digs per set while Schmidt also ranked top 10 with 3.50 kills per set and Schmotzer eighth with a .245 hitting percentage.
As a team, the Tommies ranked 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).
After the first weekend of Summit matches, St. Thomas leads the Summit League allowing opposing teams to hit .189 along with the third lowest opponent assists per set (10.80) and opponent kills per set (11.41).
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 Gustafson added 11 and Audrey Kocon recorded 10. 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 Schmotzer and three kills and a career high five block assists from 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 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. Kocon and Schmidt led the Tommies with nine kills each and both added one service ace. Schmotzer and sophomore 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 IN 2025
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 3,290, which ranks 10th among active athletes in NCAA Division I, and with 9.11 assists per set. She is also second on the program's Division I career list in digs with 987 and tied for third in career aces with 80. 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 in 2025 while she also ranks fifth in total blocks (139), sixth in solo blocks (16) and eighth in career points (403.5) 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'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 493 career kills and 595.0 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 (43), third in total blocks (188) and fourth in block assists (145). 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 354.
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 (872), fourth in career digs (887) and third in career points (989.0), while her 76 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.
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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