LAKELAND, FLA.- St. Thomas (3-5, 2-0 TSC) continues to roll in The Sun Conference play with a five-set victory against Southeastern (9-5, 1-2 TSC) by a final score of 3-2 (19-25, 25-23, 14-25, 25-22, 15-11) on Saturday afternoon.

After going down in the first set the Bobcats would come back and answer in the second. This match proved to be an intense conference matchup as STU would have answer after dropping the first and third set.

The first set went in favor of the Fire as the Bobcats would jump on an early 5-to-3 run. The run included two kills and a block from Courtney White who had an incredible game defensively for the team. Two lengthy runs from SEU would bolt them up 1-0.

After the dropped first set, the second brought intensity. To jump start the second, Kimberly Martino registered three of her 41 assists, while Whitney Battoe earned two of her 21 kills on the day in a 4-0 set opening run. White blocked two attacks in this set to help edge the Bobcats to a 25-23 victory.

The third set was dominated by Southeastern as it went in favor of the Lakeland natives by a final score of 25-14.

Set number four was the win or go home moment for STU as the team needed a victory in this set to push five, and that they did. After being down most of the entire set, the score line read 16-21.

A 9-1 scoring run, that consisted of two Martino assists, two Carly Durr kills and two service aces coming from White and Martino, and a block assist from the newcomers Angelina Quintana and Victoria Philpot. This would cap off the fourth set, putting STU and SEU in a five set decider.

The momentum of the set prior would launch the Bobcats to an 11-4 lead to open the fifth set.

Quintana and Battoe would earn two of the final four points in the set to propel an incredible comeback from St. Thomas by a final score of 15-11.

Leading the way offensively was outside hitter Battoe, who tallied 21 kills with 16 digs and three blocks. Martino assisted on 41 occasions, a match-high.

Defensively, White picked up four blocks at crucial moments, which allowed the team to continue to fight for the win. Haley Bannister stood her ground defensively as she picked up 17 digs in the match.

Next up for the Bobcats is a home conference match up against Ave Maria on Wednesday, September 27 at 7 p.m. at the Fernandez Family Center.

Come out and support!!

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