HOUSTON — The University of St. Thomas volleyball team opened SCAC Crossover Tournament hosted in Houston with a 3-1 win over the University of Dallas. The set scores were: 25-13, 25-12, 23-25, 25-18. With the win, UST  improved to 13-2 on the season and 3-1 in conference.

UST came out firing and put the Crusaders on their heels early, building to a 15-5 advantage behind aggressive serving and quick transition offense. A string of kills — including big swings from Davis and Willis — pushed the lead. UST closed the set on a 7-0 run to take it 25-13. The Celts' block and serve pressure kept Dallas from finding a consistent rhythm.

The Celts doubled down in the second, attacking with the same intensity. Early kills from Brooke Barnes and Tasmin Maxwell helped UST jump out to a 10-3 edge. Dallas tried to claw back by capitalizing on a few UST errors and made a short run to 12-5, but St. Thomas answered by regaining control through steady ball control and timely finishes. UST's balanced offense and consistent serving carried them to a 25-12 set victory.

Dallas came back with momentum in the third and the teams traded points in a tight back-and-forth. The Crusaders pushed in front and extended the lead to 20-16, forcing the Celts to fight from behind. UST mounted a late push — highlighted by a Maxwell kill and a service rally from Barnes that brought the Celts right back into contention — but Dallas held on in the end, taking the set 25-23.

St. Thomas responded in the fourth with urgency, racing out to a 13-6 lead behind solid serving and aggressive attacking. Dallas battled to cut into the margin and made it 18-13, but UST tightened up defensively and strung together the runs needed to close the match. A late series of points sealed the 25-18 fourth set and the match victory for the Celts.

The Celts were fueled by a strong offensive performance from Alexis Bodunrin, who led the team with 15 kills. Jazilyn Davis added 8 kills, while Tasmin Maxwell contributed 6. Behind the service line, Noor Haydari and Bodunrin each tallied 3 aces, with Carly Lange adding two. The defense was anchored by Lange, who collected 21 digs, followed by Mia Medina and Bodunrin with 8 apiece. Medina also guided the offense with 19 assists, while Jada Stallworth chipped in 12 and Cailin Brokaw added 5.

Up Next
The Celts remain in Houston as they continue SCAC Crossover play. UST will face Hendrix on Saturday, Oct. 5, at 2 PM inside the JAAC. Stay updated with all things Celts Volleyball at www.ustcelts.com and follow @USTAthletics and @ustwvball on Instagram and X.