HOUSTON, TX– The University of St. Thomas volleyball team closed out their opening weekend making an outstanding impact, defeating Hardin-Simmons in a five-set thriller (25-22, 21-25, 17-25, 25-23, 15-10). With the victory, the Celts finished the tournament undefeated at 4-0, making a statement early in the 2025 season.

In the first set, UST come out swinging, with Noor Haydari sparking the momentum by delivering the first kill of the match. The Celts and Cowgirls went point-for-point early before St. Thomas came together to pull through. Hardin-Simmons tried to respond, but the Celts closed the set, to secure a 25-22 win.

In the second set, the Celts carried their energy into an early 6-2 lead. The Cowgirls, however, pushed back with strong defense and intense kills to build onto the momentum. A kill from Jazilyn Davis and steady play from Madison Baker kept UST in the mix, bringing the Celts to 15-14. Despite the late efforts, Hardin-Simmons held on and evened the match with a 25-21 set victory.

The third set was all Cowgirls, as HSU controlled the tempo and kept UST from finding its rhythm. Despite several attempts to rally, the Celts couldn't overcome the push  and dropped the set, 25-17.

Facing a 2-1 hole, the Celts showed an intense aggression in the fourth set. The two teams traded points throughout, keeping the intensity high. With the score tied at 16-16, Alexis Bodunrin delivered a powerful kill to energize UST's side. Bodunrin added three more kills down the stretch, while Ariana Willis and Haydari chipped in key points at the net. Haydari sealed the set with another strong attack, giving the Celts a solid 25-23 win and forcing a deciding set.

Fueled by momentum, the Celts stormed into the fifth set with confidence, jumping out to an 8-3 lead. Hardin-Simmons tried to close the gap, but UST stayed composed and capitalized on Cowgirl errors. A final HSU error gave St. Thomas the 15-10 win and the match, sealing a 3-2 victory.

The Celts leaned on their leaders in the victory. Alexis Bodunrin powered the offense with 20 kills while also adding 10 digs and an ace. Jazilyn Davis provided a spark with 12 kills and 3 blocks, and Noor Haydari chipped in 10 kills and 2 blocks of her own. Setter Mia Medina paced the attack with 26 assists, while Jada Stallworth added 20 assists and 3 aces. On defense, Carly Lange was a force in the back row, recording a UST career-high 34 digs to help secure the win.

Up Next
The Celts will return to the court next week on the road in Montgomery, AL against Millsaps College on Friday, September 5 @2 PM. Stay updated with all things UST Volleyball at www.ustcelts.com or follow @USTAthletics and @ustwvball on Instagram.