SAN ANTONIO, TX-- St. Thomas volleyball battled Johns Hopkins University in a four-set match at the Bell Center on Saturday, falling 3-1 by scores of 27-25, 19-25, 22-25, and 21-25. The Celts fought through several close stretches, including a back-and-forth opening set that went beyond 25 points and a late push in the fourth. The result moves the Celts to 1-4 overall on the season.

In the opening set, the Celts answered an early 3-0 deficit with kills from Ariana Willis and a pair of service aces from Alexie Martinez. UST stayed within striking distance throughout the middle of the frame, with kills from Alexis Bodunrin, Noor Haydari, Audrey Cataline, Jada Stallworth, and Sydney Nevill helping the Celts remain level with Johns Hopkins at 10-10, 13-13, and 16-16. UST then battled back from a 22-19 deficit as Cataline recorded a kill and Stallworth followed with back-to-back aces to tie the set at 22-22. Willis added another kill to make it 23-23, and after Johns Hopkins reached set point at 25-24, Nevill answered with a kill before UST closed the set on a Johns Hopkins attack error, 27-25.

Johns Hopkins responded in the second set, building an early advantage before UST began to chip away. Katelyn Marti and Cataline recorded kills as the Celts pulled closer, while a Cataline-Haydari block brought UST within two at 8-6. Morgan Gardner later added a kill as the Celts continued to battle at 14-10, and a Johns Hopkins attack error cut the margin to 15-12. UST remained within four at 18-14 and 19-16, with kills from Carly Lange and Stallworth helping keep the Celts in the frame. Johns Hopkins created separation late, but Nevill's kill brought UST to 19 before the opponent finished the set, 25-19.

The third set remained close for much of the frame. Brooke Barnes and Bodunrin supplied early kills, while Nevill added another as UST stayed within reach. Cataline and Bodunrin then helped the Celts close the gap to 13-11, and a Brokaw service ace brought UST within one at 14-13. Cataline continued to produce with kills at 15-14 and 16-15 as the Celts stayed within a point. Johns Hopkins moved ahead 20-17, but UST answered with an attack error by the opponent and another Cataline kill to make it 20-18. Bodunrin and Marti added late kills, and UST remained within two at 23-21 before Brokaw helped set up another point to bring the Celts within 23-22. Johns Hopkins closed the set, 25-22, to take a 2-1 match lead.

UST opened the fourth set facing an early 5-1 deficit but continued to fight back behind Willis and Marti. The Celts trimmed the margin to 11-7, then Nevill and Lange contributed as UST stayed within five. Bodunrin's kill helped bring the Celts to 15-12, and Willis followed with another kill to make it 17-13. Johns Hopkins extended its lead to 20-14, but UST mounted one final push. Barnes and Lange recorded kills, while Barnes and Haydari combined for a block as the Celts moved to 21-17. Willis then added a kill, and Cataline followed with an ace and an attack to cut the deficit from 23-17 to 23-21. Johns Hopkins reached match point at 24-21 and finished the set, 25-21.

Bodunrin led the Celts with 11 kills, while Cataline and Willis added six apiece. Martinez recorded three aces, Stallworth had two, and Haydari finished with three blocks. Stallworth and Cailin Brokaw paced the offense with 20 and 15 assists, respectively, while Cataline led UST with 13 digs and Bodunrin added nine. As a team, the Celts finished with 47 kills, seven aces, four blocks, 41 assists, and 52 digs.

Up Next: The Celts return to action Saturday, Sept. 19, at 5:30 p.m. when they face Trinity University (Texas) in San Antonio, Texas.