MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – St. Thomas (17-11, 14-1 TSC) clinched the regular-season Sun Conference championship with a straight set win over Johnson & Wales (7-21, 0-15 TSC) Wednesday night at the Fernandez Family Center.  The Bobcats dominated the Wildcats winning 25-10, 25-15, 25-12.

It marked the fifth regular-season Sun Conference championship in school history and the first championship for the Bobcats since 2014. 

By winning the regular-season championship, St. Thomas will be the number one seed and host of the upcoming Sun Conference Volleyball Championships.  STU will host the conference championship tournament semifinals at the Fernandez Family Center on Friday, November 10 followed by the tournament finals on Saturday, November 11.

The championship for the Bobcats comes under the direction of first-year head coach Kera Dukic and assistant coaches Rosan Rivera, Isabela Macedo Da Silva, Jesse Ochoa and Breno Errty.  The Bobcats were sensational throughout the conference schedule, winning their first 12 conference matches.  The lone loss in conference play came in a five-setter to Webber International.  Earlier in the conference schedule, STU defeated Webber International in straight sets, giving the Bobcats a 5-3 advantage in sets over the Warriors.

A dynamic senior class of Whitney Battoe, Carly Durr, Kimberly Martino and Kelli Kosydor, along with juniors Courtney White and Haley Bannister,have led the team all year as the Bobcats have flexed their muscle in conference play.  St. Thomas has won 42 of 54 sets in conference play this season with eight three-set sweeps over league opponents. 

On Wednesday night, the dominance in conference play continued as STU dealt JWU a second three-set sweep in as many meetings.

The quick sweep had STU on top from beginning to end as clinching was on the focus for everyone. 

On the night, White earned herself a team-high eight kills, which went along perfectly with her one assist, three digs and one block. Outside hitter, and senior, Durr owned the team's best percentage in attacks with over two kills as she went 6-for-10 on the night, .600. Kosydor attacked a perfect 2-for-2 on her night and also recorded two service aces and four digs.

Battoe and Victoria Philpot tied for seven kills a piece, while the senior served two aces in the match and dug on six occasions. Philpot fought for her defensive efforts and blocked two times in the match. 

The Bobcats sole setter Martino registred a match-high 29 assists, which went along smoothly with her two kills, one service ace, seven digs and one block. Freshman attacker Angelina Quintana pulled away with a pair of kills, one assist, and seven digs.

 Veronica Gomez served for a match-high three service aces and dug eight times. 

St. Thomas will conclude its regular-season conference schedule on Saturday at Coastal Georgia in New Brunswick, Ga. 

Live stats and video coverage of the match will be provided at https://portal.stretchinternet.com/coastalgeorgia/

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