University of St. Thomas Athletics
Friday, September 4
St. Paul, Minn.
3:00 p.m. CT
1-3,0-0Summit League
2
vs
3
UIC
1-4,0-0MVC
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UIC | 21 | 19 | 25 | 25 | 15 | 3 |
| St. Thomas (MN) | 25 | 25 | 23 | 12 | 9 | 2 |
Ellie Gustafson (7) digs an attack Friday, Sept. 4 during a 3-2 loss to UIC in Schoenecker Arena.
Photo by: COPYRIGHT 2026
kasonzetah.com
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Strong start by Tommies not enough in close loss to Flames
9/4/2026 7:01:00 PM | Volleyball
Morgan Kealy records her 48th career double-double during team’s first defeat at home
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Senior Morgan Kealy's 48th career double-double wasn't enough to lift St. Thomas volleyball Friday afternoon as UIC completed a 3-2 win (25-21, 25-19, 23-25, 12-25, 9-15) on the second day of the Tommie Invitational Volleyball Tournament in Schoenecker Arena.
TOP TOMMIES
Addie Schmotzer
- Recorded 10 or more kills in two consecutive matches and finished hitting .214 with 11.5 total points.
Anya Schmidt
- Recorded 12 or more kills in two straight matches and led the Tommies with 12.5 points against the Flames, her second straight match with at least 12.5 points.
Morgan Kealy
- Recorded 37 assists and 10 digs for her 48th career double-double. She is also one assist shy of 3,000 in her career, which ranks 11th among active student-athletes in NCAA Division I.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Tommies broke a 20-20 tie with four straight points on Kira Brundage's serve, including three Schmotzer kills from Kealy and a Brundage service ace. After the Flames got one point back, Schmidt finished the set with a kill from Kealy to give the Tommies a 25-21 win.
In the second set, the Tommies answered the Flames' late point at 21-19 by scoring the final four points to take the set, 25-19. Audrey Kocon opened the closing stretch with a kill from Kealy, and Schmotzer teamed with Kocon on blocks for the last two points.
The Tommies rallied late from a 21-16 deficit, with Brundage serving during a four-point push and Kocon later delivering a service ace that tied the set at 23. Earlier, the Tommies erased a 4-0 start by the Flames with five straight points, including two Bryn Lunski aces, to move ahead 5-4. The Flames took the final two points to claim the set, 25-23.
In the fourth set, the Tommies could not close the gap after the Flames moved from a 10-5 edge to 16-6 and kept separation from there. Kocon had three kills for the Tommies, and Ellie Gustafson added two late kills, but the Flames finished the set 25-12.
The Tommies fell into an early deficit in the fifth set and could not erase it, despite kills from Schmotzer, Gustafson, Kocon, and Schmidt. The Tommies pushed back to 12-9 after a Flames attack error, but the Flames scored the final three points to close out the set 15-9.
QUOTABLES
Head Coach Thanh Pham: "This is the second time our program has faced UIC and it was another tough five-setter that we came out on the wrong end of. Give credit to them, they were hungry for the win and they really kept the pressure on with timely hits and great defense. We tried to respond the best we could and we're going to learn from this and move forward."
UP NEXT
St. Thomas volleyball team hosts Milwaukee, who is 2-0 on the week following a win over Montana State on Friday, on Saturday, Sept. 5, at 3 p.m. to close out the Tommie Invitational Tournament.
FOLLOW ALONG
For more information on Tommie 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
Addie Schmotzer
- Recorded 10 or more kills in two consecutive matches and finished hitting .214 with 11.5 total points.
Anya Schmidt
- Recorded 12 or more kills in two straight matches and led the Tommies with 12.5 points against the Flames, her second straight match with at least 12.5 points.
Morgan Kealy
- Recorded 37 assists and 10 digs for her 48th career double-double. She is also one assist shy of 3,000 in her career, which ranks 11th among active student-athletes in NCAA Division I.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Tommies broke a 20-20 tie with four straight points on Kira Brundage's serve, including three Schmotzer kills from Kealy and a Brundage service ace. After the Flames got one point back, Schmidt finished the set with a kill from Kealy to give the Tommies a 25-21 win.
In the second set, the Tommies answered the Flames' late point at 21-19 by scoring the final four points to take the set, 25-19. Audrey Kocon opened the closing stretch with a kill from Kealy, and Schmotzer teamed with Kocon on blocks for the last two points.
The Tommies rallied late from a 21-16 deficit, with Brundage serving during a four-point push and Kocon later delivering a service ace that tied the set at 23. Earlier, the Tommies erased a 4-0 start by the Flames with five straight points, including two Bryn Lunski aces, to move ahead 5-4. The Flames took the final two points to claim the set, 25-23.
In the fourth set, the Tommies could not close the gap after the Flames moved from a 10-5 edge to 16-6 and kept separation from there. Kocon had three kills for the Tommies, and Ellie Gustafson added two late kills, but the Flames finished the set 25-12.
The Tommies fell into an early deficit in the fifth set and could not erase it, despite kills from Schmotzer, Gustafson, Kocon, and Schmidt. The Tommies pushed back to 12-9 after a Flames attack error, but the Flames scored the final three points to close out the set 15-9.
QUOTABLES
Head Coach Thanh Pham: "This is the second time our program has faced UIC and it was another tough five-setter that we came out on the wrong end of. Give credit to them, they were hungry for the win and they really kept the pressure on with timely hits and great defense. We tried to respond the best we could and we're going to learn from this and move forward."
UP NEXT
St. Thomas volleyball team hosts Milwaukee, who is 2-0 on the week following a win over Montana State on Friday, on Saturday, Sept. 5, at 3 p.m. to close out the Tommie Invitational Tournament.
FOLLOW ALONG
For more information on Tommie 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
DS/L
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
RS/S
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
MB
/ VolleyballTeam Stats
UIC
UST
Kills
51
57
Errors
24
35
Attempts
158
178
Hitting %
.171
.124
Points
67.0
71.0
Assists
49
52
Aces
5
8
Blocks
11
6
Game Leaders
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
9
Aces
1
Blocks
0
Kills
8
Aces
1
Blocks
2
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