AUSTIN, TX – The University of St. Thomas' Volleyball team battled back from a two-set deficit to force a fifth set against Concordia University Texas on Saturday at Deb & Don Christian Fieldhouse, but the Celts fell 3-2 with set scores of 21-25, 14-25, 25-22, 26-24, 10-15. The loss leaves UST at 5-14 overall and 4-9 in Conference.
UST opened the match with a strong first-set run, overcoming an early 1-0 deficit to take a 5-1 lead.
Noor Haydari recorded a kill, and
Audrey Cataline followed with back-to-back service aces before
Alexis Bodunrin added a kill. The Celts maintained their advantage and led 14-9 before Concordia began to close the gap. UST reached a 17-15 lead, but the Tornados rallied to tie the set at 18-18 and eventually moved in front. Haydari's kill and a Cataline block helped the Celts pull within 23-21, but Concordia closed out the set at 25-21.
Concordia took control early in the second set, building a 17-7 advantage. Cataline and Haydari provided early kills for UST, while
Brooke Barnes, Bodunrin,
Morgan Gardner and
Ariana Willis added kills as the Celts tried to narrow the deficit. Gardner's kill and a block helped UST reach 14 points, but Concordia maintained its lead to take the set, 25-14, and move ahead two sets to none.
The Celts responded in the third set. After falling behind 6-4, UST scored three straight points to take a 7-6 lead.
Ariana Willis added a kill,
Carly Lange delivered a service ace, and Haydari and Willis teamed up for a block as the Celts extended their advantage to 11-6. Concordia worked back to 11-8, but UST continued to answer. Kills from
Morgan Gardner,
Jayda Dixon and Haydari helped the Celts maintain the lead, and Dixon's kill gave UST a 24-20 advantage. Concordia scored twice more before UST finished the set, 25-22.
UST carried that momentum into the fourth set, building an 11-6 lead. Gardner contributed multiple kills and a block during the run, while Lange added a service ace. The Celts continued to hold the advantage through the middle of the set, with kills from Haydari, Cataline and Bodunrin helping UST stay in front. Concordia rallied late and took a 24-23 lead, but a Concordia attack error tied the set at 24-24. Another attack error gave UST a set point, and a block by Dixon secured the 26-24 win to even the match at two sets apiece.
In the deciding set, Haydari and Bodunrin gave UST an early lead with kills, but Concordia responded with a run to go ahead 5-2.
Madison Baker's kill and a Haydari service ace brought the Celts within 5-4. UST continued to fight back, with kills from Lange and Gardner, followed by a Haydari kill and Cataline service ace. The Celts closed the gap to 10-14, but Concordia scored the final point to take the set, 15-10, and win the match.
UST finished with 49 kills, six service aces, five blocks, 47 assists and 66 digs. Bodunrin led the Celts with 11 kills, followed by Gardner with 10 and Haydari with eight. Gardner added two blocks, while Cataline recorded three aces, one block and nine digs. Lange finished with two aces and 20 digs, and
Jada Stallworth contributed 22 assists and 10 digs.
Jazilyn Davis added 16 assists.
Up Next
The Celts are scheduled to face East Texas Baptist University at 2 p.m. on Nov. 7 in Austin, Texas.
