HOUSTON, TX —  St. Thomas volleyball team battled through five intense sets to hand Schreiner their first divisional loss of the season, earning a 3-2 victory (22-25, 25-10, 21-25, 25-20, 15-8) at the JAAC. The Celts' grit and energy fueled a memorable comeback in front of their home crowd. They advance to 17-2 and 7-1 in conference.

The opening set set the tone for a competitive match as both teams traded points early. After Schreiner built momentum with a 5-0 run to take a 20-17 lead, UST kept pushing but ultimately fell short, 25-22.

The Celts responded immediately in set two, storming out to a 12-5 lead behind kills from Brooke Barnes, Karrington Kays, and Alexis Bodunrin. UST continued to roll with a dominant 7-0 run, extending their lead to 20-7 before closing the set 25-10 to even the match.

Set three saw Schreiner reclaim control early with a 6-1 advantage, but the Celts fought back with strong play from Bodunrin and Ariana Willis, taking a brief 12-11 lead. The Mountaineers, however, finished strong to win 25-21 and move ahead 2-1 in the match.

Fueled by determination, the Celts came out fired up in the fourth set. UST took a 14-7 lead, powered by kills from Bodunrin and Jazilyn Davis. Schreiner refused to back down, closing the gap to 19-17, but UST maintained their composure to claim the set 25-20 and force a decisive fifth.

The Celts delivered in the final frame After jumping ahead 5-2, UST weathered a Schreiner rally before pulling away behind back-to-back kills from Bodunrin. A late 4-0 run sealed the deal as the Celts captured the set 15-8 — and the match.

Bodunrin led the Celts with 19 kills and 11 digs for another double-double performance. Davis added 13 kills, while Willis contributed 12 kills and two blocks. Setter Mia Medina dished out 24 assists, with Stallworth adding 19 and Lange chipping in 11. Lange was outstanding defensively, leading all players with 37 digs and four service aces.

Up Next:
The Celts return to the JAAC to face Colorado College on Saturday, October 18 at 1 PM. Stay updated with all things Celts Volleyball at www.ustcelts.com and follow @USTAthletics and @ustwvball on Instagram and X.