MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – St. Thomas University Volleyball (5-7, 4-1 TSC) kept their Sun Conference winning streak alive in a five-set victory (22-25, 25-23, 25-22, 15-25, and 15-9) over Keiser University (8-9, 0-4 TSC) on Saturday afternoon from the Fernandez Family Center on the campus of St. Thomas University.

Keiser University made their return to the FFC to take on the Bobcats after coming down to compete in the STU Invitational tournament, the two conference opponents did not meet in tournament play and this was their first match-up of the season.

The Bobcats looked to extend their three-match winning streak in Sun Conference play against a Seahawks team that had yet to win a TSC match-up.

The first set of the match did not see much separation between the two programs, an indication of how the match played out the rest of the afternoon, through the first 30 points of the match neither team was separated by more than two points. Keiser took a 15-19 lead over STU when Coach Skelton used his first timeout of the match to regain the composure of the bench. The timeout worked as STU recorded three consecutive points to bring the match within one point at 18-19 before Keiser ultimately took the set victory at 22-25 over St. Thomas.

In the second set, STU scored eight consecutive points to overcome a 7-12 deficit and take a 15-12 lead before Keiser called their first timeout. As the set progressed, the two teams forced seven ties and three lead changes after being tied at 18-18. Arianna Bolinger finished the set with her fifth kill to provide the Bobcats the set victory to tie the match at 1-1.

The third set of the match provided more of the same from the previous two, as the teams stayed close throughout. St. Thomas pulled away to establish a 17-12 lead over Keiser, following a Carli Batsel kill. STU took back-to-back sets to claim a 2-1 lead in sets with a 25-22 lead, as once again Bolinger finished the set with a kill.

Keiser fought off the St. Thomas victory in the fourth set by winning 15-25 to force the match to go into the decisive fifth set.

For the second time this season, STU was forced into a five-set match against a Sun Conference opponent, (9/12 vs JWU) which started the Bobcats longest winning streak of the season. The final set was tied at 8-8 before reigning Sun Conference Attacker of the week, Krista Kolbinkie took over the match and recorded three of the final seven points to seal the victory for St. Thomas University with a service ace.

Bobcat Leaders:
Arianna Bolinger: 19 kills
Nathaly Alvarez: 34 assists
Krista Kolbinskie: 20 digs/ 18 kills
Victoria Philpot: six blocks
 
Up next for St. Thomas University is an away match against Florida National University on Wednesday, September 26^th at 6:30 p.m. from Bucky Dent Gymnasium in Hialeah.