SHERMAN, TX-- The University of St. Thomas' Volleyball team fell to Austin College in four sets on Friday night at Hughey Gym in Sherman, Texas. The Celts had set scores of 20-25, 25-22, 25-27 and 20-25. The loss moves the Celts to 4-11 overall and 3-6 in conference.
Austin College took the opening set 25-20 after UST battled back from an early deficit.
Ta'Niyah Johnson helped the Celts even the score at 5-5 with two service aces and a kill. UST remained within reach late in the set, tying the score at 19-19 behind kills from
Audrey Cataline and
Alexis Bodunrin. Austin College then scored six of the final seven points to take the first set.
The Celts answered in the second set, building an early 8-4 lead with kills from Cataline, Johnson and
Katelyn Marti. UST extended its advantage to 10-5, with
Noor Haydari contributing at the net, but Austin College rallied to tie the set at 15-15. The teams traded points into the closing stretch, reaching a 20-20 tie before UST pulled ahead.
Alexis Bodunrin added a service ace during the final push as the Celts won five of the last seven points to claim the set 25-22 and even the match.
UST controlled much of the third set, opening with a 6-2 advantage and extending the lead to 12-5 behind two consecutive service aces from Johnson.
Ariana Willis contributed at the net as the Celts maintained their advantage through the middle of the set. Austin College did not take its first lead until 22-20, putting pressure on UST late. The Celts rallied to tie the score at 24-24 and again at 25-25, with Cataline contributed a kill late in the set to keep UST in contention. Austin College scored the final two points to take the set 27-25.
Austin College built a 10-5 lead in the fourth set, forcing UST to work back into the match. The Celts continued to battle and narrowed the deficit to 19-22, with Johnson contributing a kill and Cataline adding a service ace during the comeback effort. Austin College reached match point at 24-19, but Bodunrin answered with a kill to bring UST to 20 points before Austin College secured the final point for a 25-20 set win.
Cataline led the Celts with 14 kills and 13 digs, while Bodunrin finished with 13 kills and 16 digs. Willis added eight kills, and Johnson recorded five service aces.
Cailin Brokaw and
Daisy Mabin paced the offense with 23 and 21 assists, respectively, while
Carly Lange recorded 15 digs. The Celts finished with 50 kills, 9 service aces, 10 blocks, 46 assists and 59 digs.
Up Next: The Celts continue SCAC play on Saturday, October 24, at 12:15 PM against LeTourneau University in Sherman, Texas.
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