MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Midway through regular-season conference play, the St. Thomas University Women's Volleyball team is undefeated in conference play, riding an eight-game win streak and edging closer to an appearance in the national top-25.
 

St. Thomas has an overall record of 14-4 (.778 winning pct.) and leads The Sun Conference with a perfect 7-0 record.  The Bobcats are currently riding an eight-game win streak, dating back to a win over Northwood (Fla.) on September 6.  STU appears to be on the precipice of a national ranking having received 22 votes and moving up eight spots in last week's Tachikara-NAIA Volleyball Coaches Poll.
 

The recent success has been remarkable under Head Coach Callaway Mefford who took over a program that finished 8-12 in 2011.  In her three years at STU, Mefford has compiled a 45-25 (.643) overall record and a 22-6 (.786) in conference play.  Mefford, the 2012 Sun Conference Coach of the Year, has high expectations for the remainder of the season for the 2014 Bobcats, her most talented team since arriving at St. Thomas. 
 

"Our team is very proud of what they have accomplished so far this year, but we are not satisfied," said Mefford.  "As a team we set high goals of winning conference and being nationally ranked this season and we are on the right track, but we understand we have to continue working harder and progressing as the season goes along."
 

"This year's team is truly dedicated to the program in every aspect on and off the court which is why they are performing and succeeding," continued Mefford.  "After having this past weekend off from matches and two hard weeks of practice, we are excited to play some top teams in Michigan this weekend."
 

Midway through the conference schedule, the Bobcats' perfect mark leads the conference standings by 1.5 games over defending conference champion Embry-Riddle.  On September 12, STU defeated the then-20th ranked Eagles on the road, snapping the ERAU's 76-match regular season conference winning streak which was the longest active streak in the NAIA.
 

In conference play, the Bobcats have won 21 of their 25 sets played with five of their seven conference wins coming in straight sets.  Statistically, STU leads the conference in hitting percentage (.208), while ranking second in the categories of kills-per-set (12.0) and blocks-per-set (2.1).

 


Sophomore Marisa Markus, a Second Team All-Conference selection in 2013, has consistently been this season's most productive hitter for the Bobcats.  She ranks fifth in the conference with a .232 hitting percentage.  Markus has registered double-digit kills nine times this season, including two matches where she recorded 17 kills (vs. Texas Wesleyan, at Embry-Riddle). 

 
Freshman Whitney Battoe is just behind Markus, ranking sixth in the conference with a .226 hitting percentage.  Freshman Carly Durr and junior Samantha Garza have been major contributors on the front line as well with each player averaging 1.9 kills-per-set.  Garza also leads the team with 19 service aces.

 


Defensively at the net, Garza leads the conference with 70 total blocks and an average of 1.0 blocks-per-set.  Sophomore Briana Willhite is second on the team with 43 total blocks (0.8 blocks-per-set).
 

Setting up the Bobcat hitters all season has been sophomore Dana Nowaczyk, a First Team All-Sun Conference performer in 2013 who this season ranks third in the conference with 9.2 assists-per-set.  Nowaczyk was named conference player of the week for the second time in her career on September 16 after distributing 57 assists and picking up 10 digs and five blocks in wins over Embry-Riddle, Southeastern (Fla.) and Florida Memorial.  With the score 11-10 in the decisive fifth set at ERAU, Nowaczyk set up Markus with an assist for the first of four straight points by the Bobcats.  She took over service with the score 12-10, then served for three consecutive points to put away the match and end ERAU's 76-match conference win streak.
 

At the libero position, junior Sydney Maynard stepped into action having never played the position due to an injury early in the season to junior Jordan Wiese.  Maynard has responded with strong play with double-digit dig totals in 13 of her 15 matches playing libero, including a career-high 32 digs in the win at Embry-Riddle.  At service, Maynard has been very productive with 17 aces and leading the team in service percentage.  With Maynard now at libero, Wiese has returned to action being used in a versatile role.
 

This weekend, the Bobcats travel to Grand Rapids, Mich. to compete in the Panther Invitational where they will face nationally ranked opposition.  The Bobcats open the tournament on Friday vs. 23rd ranked Ashford (Iowa) at 12 p.m. followed by a match vs. Taylor (Ind.) at 4 p.m.  On Saturday, action continues with a match vs. Indiana Wesleyan (12 receiving votes) at 12 p.m. and concludes vs. 25th ranked host Davenport (Mich.) at 4 p.m. 


To follow the action at this weekend's Panther Invitational, visit the event's tournament page at http://dupanthers.com/sports/2014/9/19/WVB_0919144953.aspx
 

Following the Panther Invitational, the Bobcats will return to conference play vs. Florida Memorial on Oct. 22 and then a rematch vs. Embry-Riddle on Oct. 24 at the Fernandez Center for Leadership and Wellness.