HOUSTON, TX – St. Thomas' Volleyball team battled Concordia University Texas in a four-set SCAC matchup Sunday afternoon, falling 3-1 by scores of 25-22, 25-21, 20-25, 25-20 at the Jerabeck Activity and Athletic Center. The Celts now move to 2-6 overall and 1-1 in conference play.
The Celts opened the first set with an early 1-0 lead before Concordia answered, but St. Thomas quickly regained control behind a run that featured kills from Alexis Bodunrin and Sydney Nevill. Bodunrin added another kill to push the Celts ahead 7-3, and Audrey Cataline followed with a kill to make it 8-4. St. Thomas continued to build its advantage, reaching a 12-6 lead after a service error from Concordia. Katelyn Marti added kills at 13-7 and 14-8, while Nevill recorded another kill to help the Celts maintain their lead. St. Thomas held a 21-16 advantage late in the set, but Concordia responded with a late run to even the score at 21-21. After the Celts moved ahead 22-21, Concordia closed the set with four straight points to take the opening frame, 25-22.
Concordia carried its momentum into the second set, opening with a 4-0 lead before Ariana Willis put St. Thomas on the board with a kill. Cataline and Carly Lange followed with kills as the Celts pulled within 5-3. St. Thomas continued to battle, with Noor Haydari and Nevill contributing kills to keep the Celts within striking distance. Trailing 14-8, St. Thomas began to chip away as kills from Nevill, Bodunrin and Gardner helped bring the Celts within 14-11. Bodunrin added another kill and Morgan Gardner followed with a kill as St. Thomas closed to 15-13. Cataline and Lange continued to provide offense, but Concordia maintained its advantage and reached set point at 24-19. St. Thomas answered with kills from Gardner and Ta'Niyah Johnson to make it 24-21 before Concordia secured the set, 25-21.
Facing a two-set deficit, the Celts responded in the third. After Concordia opened with a 1-0 lead, Marti and Bodunrin answered with kills to keep the set close early. Brokaw then delivered a kill to make it 4-4 before Bodunrin added another to put St. Thomas ahead 5-4. After Concordia briefly regained the lead, St. Thomas battled back behind kills from Bodunrin and Cataline. The Celts then turned a 13-11 deficit into an 18-13 advantage with a seven-point run. Jada Stallworth sparked the stretch with a service ace and a kill, while Marti added two kills and Stallworth followed with another ace. St. Thomas continued to control the set, with Cataline, Lange and Bodunrin contributing to a 23-18 lead. Brokaw added a service ace to move the Celts to set point, and Bodunrin finished the frame with a kill as St. Thomas took the third set, 25-20.
The Celts carried that momentum into the fourth set, taking an early 1-0 lead on a Cataline kill. After Concordia moved in front, Johnson answered with a kill, and Brokaw followed with back-to-back service aces to give St. Thomas a 5-4 advantage. The teams continued to trade points, with Bodunrin and Martinez contributing kills and Martinez adding a service ace as the Celts stayed within one at 10-9. St. Thomas later took a 12-11 lead before Concordia answered with a short run. The Celts responded again, tying the set at 15-15 before Cataline sparked a three-point stretch with a kill, an ace and another kill. Bodunrin then added a kill to give St. Thomas a 16-15 lead. The teams remained tied at 17-17 before Concordia regained the advantage. Marti and Haydari added kills to keep the Celts within reach, but Concordia pulled away late and closed the set, 25-20.
Bodunrin led the Celts with 12 kills and added 18 digs. Cataline and Marti each finished with nine kills, while Stallworth recorded 28 assists and three aces. Brokaw added 16 assists and three aces, and Martinez finished with two aces. Lange led the defensive effort with 28 digs, while Cataline contributed 12 digs. As a team, St. Thomas finished with 52 kills, nine aces, 50 assists and 80 digs.
Up Next
The Celts return to action on Friday, October 2, at 5 p.m. when they face the University of the Ozarks in SCAC play in Seguin, Texas.
