UPLAND, Ind. (August 27, 2022) – The St. Thomas University (STU) Volleyball team (3-3) hit the road for the first time this season competing in the Amber McClure Fayerweather Memorial Tournament hosted by Taylor University on Friday and Saturday. The team took on two double-header days for a total of four matches, highlighted by the host no. 22 Taylor.
 
St. Thomas came out of the tournament 2-2, dropping the first two matches on Friday to IU-Kokomo and no. 22 Taylor, and sweeping the day on Saturday against Concordia and Lawrence Tech.
 
Match Scores
STU vs. IU-Kokomo; 12-25, 16-25, 25-22, 25-27 (L, 3-1)
STU vs. #22 Taylor: 21-25, 21-25, 25-23, 14-25 (L, 3-1)
STU vs. Concordia: 25-20, 25-15, 25-15 (W, 3-0)
STU vs. Lawrence Tech: 25-20, 17-25, 25-20, 25-15 (W, 3-1)
 
Tournament Recap
In what started out as a slow start for St. Thomas in their first set, the team picked it up and found rhythm against the Cougars to take set three in their first match. It was a low hitting match for each team overall, the errors would prove to be the difference maker. Both teams collected six service aces and had over 40-kills.
 
In the ranked match up against Taylor, the Trojan defense would not allow the Bobcats an opportunity to score picking up 19 blocks. STU still pushed through to get 43-kills.
 
Saturday was a full 180 for the Bobcats starting with a three-set sweep in game on. STU improved their hit percentage to .248 and picked up their fourth straight 40-kill game. The defense also made their presence known with a season-high 11 blocks as Sana Dennis picked up six of her own. Bianca Grassi also starred with six service aces, the second most in a single match for the sophomore.
 
After falling in the first set to Lawrence Tech, STU battled to win three straight sets to take the match in four. A season-high 53-kills would be enough to lead the way. Amanda Allende and Alexandra MacAskill led the way with double-digit kills as Dennis was not to far behind with nine. Four different Bobcats recorded a service ace for a total of 10 in the match, that is the first time this season and first since September 2021.
 
Allende highlights the weekend picking up 47 kills, 45 digs, and three double-doubles. The senior is now the team's leader with 61 kills and second in the Sun Conference averaging 3.05 kills per set. MacAskill is right behind with 34-kills on the tournament and 10 blocks. Sophomore, Sana Dennis, found a grove leading the defense with 15 blocks and adding 27-kills while hitting .292.
 
Loreto Nunez-Casal was a big boost off the bench adding 27-kills and six blocks. Isadora Tavares led the setters with 84-assists and a 5.60 set average. Kyleigh Beecham and Mia Thomas split the second rotation both averaging over four assists per set. Grassi was nine short of 100 digs in the tournament averaging 6.07 a set as she is second in the conference with 5.86 overall. The sophomore is also second in service aces with 13 so far on the year.
 
STU will look to carry the moment back home and regroup to keep it while taking a break between their next matches.