BABSON PARK, FLA. – The St. Thomas University Volleyball team (10-13, 8-6 TSC) lost in straight sets (22-25, 11-25 and 23-25) to Sun Conference leader, Webber Intenational (22-4, 14-1 TSC) on Saturday evening from the Sabbagh Athletic Center.

In a potential Sun Conference tournament preview, STU took on the reigning tournament champion, Webber International University in need of a Sun Conference win as the regular season draws to a conclusion.

St. Thomas was trailing Webber International by three-points in the first set at 5-8, before a Nathaly Alvarez kill, gave STU momentum for a four-point run to claim the lead at 9-8. In addition to the Alvarez kill, the Bobcats capitalized off a Webber error, an Arianna Bolinger kill and a Courtney White service ace. STU was able to further extend the lead to four-points over the Warriors, to put the score at 13-9 as N. Alvarez recorded two service aces to lead the effort.

The Warriors responded to the Bobcats offensive attack with a four-point run of their own, to force a STU timeout. The two clubs traded points for the remainder of the set, with St. Thomas leading late with the score at 20-19. Webber rallied to claim the first set, by winning six of the final eight-points to win 22-25.

In the second set, Webber maintained their momentum from closing out the first set with a prolonged run. As WIU defeated STU 11-25.

St. Thomas trailed in the match 0-2 as the clubs headed to the third set, with the Bobcats looking to rally and stay alive in a crucial Sun Conference match. The third set resembled the first, as both teams traded
points, while not being able to separate by more than two-points through the first 23-points as the score sat at 12-11 in favor of STU, following a Dayma Pla service ace.

Webber rallied for eight consecutive points to take a commanding 12-19 lead, as Coach Skelton even called a timeout to slow the WIU attack. STU needed a sustained rally of their own, which is when Krista Kolbinskie and Bolinger ignited the STU offense. Kolbinskie recorded a kill to slow the Warriors down and while also adding an ace, as Bolinger then added three consecutive points to cut the WIU lead to just one, at 18-19. STU eliminated the WIU lead, tying the match at 23-23, before Webber finished the sweep with back-to-back points.

STU remains in fifth place in Sun Conference play, with two matches remaining on the regular season (10/31 @ Keiser, 11/3 vs Warner). STU has clinched a Sun Conference tournament spot and can move up to third place with two wins as well as a Coastal Georgia loss.

St. Thomas is back in action Wednesday, October 31^st from West Palm Beach, taking on Keiser University with the match set to begin at 7:00 p.m.