MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (October 23, 2021) – The St. Thomas University (STU) Volleyball team (16-6, 9-2 SUN) picks up a big five set Sun Conference win over the College of Coastal Georgia (21-4, 6-4 SUN) from the Fernandez Family Center on Saturday afternoon to celebrate Homecoming weekend. St. Thomas took the odd sets (25-23, 25-16, 15-11) while Coastal took the even sets (25-23, 25-23). The Bobcats now hold sole possession of first place in Sun Conference standings.
 
Bobcat Starters
Tyran Chenault
Sana Dennis
Arianna Bolinger
Kyleigh Beecham
Mya Thomas
Loreto Nunez-Casal
Bianca Grassi – libero
 
Game Notes

• After being down 2-0 the Bobcats rallied back to take a 4-3 lead, Bolinger recorded the first kill of the day for STU.
• After being down 19-13 in set one, St. Thomas went on a 9-1 run to reclaim the lead at 22-20.
• Sun Conference Player to Watch, Sana Dennis, picked up two big blocks in the run to shut down the Mariners offense.
• As for most of the match the last seven points alternated on the scoreboard, Tyran Chenault and Arianna Bolinger recorded the final two kills in the set to take the 1-0 advantage in the match.
• Set two was another nail biter with this time Coastal going on the 8-0 run to take a 17-13 lead.
• The Bobcats worked their way to tie it up at 21, but ultimately dropped the set when the Mariners closed it out on a 4-1 rally to tie the match at one.
• Set Three was all St. Thomas winning in a dominant 25-16 fashion.
• The Bobcats hit .278 while holding a strong mariner offense to .094.
• As the theme for the match, Coastal Georgia bounced back with a set four victory of 25-23 to tie the match up at two sets each.
• The energy was felt heading into the fifth set for the winner take all.
• St. Thomas picked up the first point with a big kill from Loreto Nunez-Casal.
• The first seven points were traded off once again with the advantage for STU.
• Back-to-back kills from Chenault and Kendal Brock gave the Bobcats an extra cushion for the 5-3 lead.
• A very clutch service ace from Kyleigh Beecham forced a Coastal Georgia timeout as STU led 7-5.
• St. Thomas started picking up two points for every one of CCG's point to gain some insurance.
• The big plays were in the hands of Brock as the secret option away from Chenault, Allende, and Bolinger.
• Brock stepped up to the plate smacked down the final two points to give St. Thomas the five-set victory and sole possession of first place in the Sun Conference Standings.
• St. Thomas hit an outstanding .526 in the fifth set and picking up 12 kills.

 
Box Score Notables

• St. Thomas led in every category but service aces.
• The kills tilted in favor of STU 66-47; second most kills all season.
• After not recording a single block in the first match up, the Bobcats recorded nine, with Chenault and Dennis recording four each.
• Tyran Chenault had a season-high in kills with 17, career-high for a fifth set match.
• There were three Bobcats with double-digit kills, Chenault 917), Amanda Allende (13), and Bolinger (10).
• Kyleigh Beecham and Mia Thomas led the way in assists with 29 and 27, respectively.
• Grassi had another dominate performance with 19-digs, Mya Thomas also helped out in the back line with 11 digs of her own.

 
Up Next
St. Thomas will travel to Hialeah, Fla. for a non-conference match up against Florida National University on Wednesday, October 27 with first serve scheduled for 6:30 p.m.