SIOUX CITY, Iowa (November 30, 2023) – The NAIA Women's Volleyball National Tournament Pool Play continued Thursday evening for St. Thomas Volleyball (27-3, 14-0 SUN) at the Tyson Events Center. The 18^th seeded Bobcats fell to the 10^th seeded Jamestown Jimmies in three sets 24-26, 22-25, 22-25. The loss ends a 22-match win streak, it is also the first time the Bobcats have been swept all year.
 
St. Thomas was up for the task coming off the high that was the night before taking down no. 7 Corban in five sets. Taking on the Jimmies would be a bit more of a difficult task as the reigning champs were fresh off their rest day and looking to defend their crown.
 
The first set stayed tight as teams traded off points, Jamestown never held a lead larger than two and STU was able to get the set tied at 14 all thanks to a block by Tayla Barnes. The set stayed tied or six more points as STU continued to battle and worked their way to rally three straight points to tie at 23 all. A kill by Alexandra Bruno tied it at 24 all, but a service error a Jamestown ace ended the first set in favor of the Jimmies.
 
Set two was a down set for the Bobcats as Jamestown cruised away to a two-set match lead.
 
Set three saw the Bobcats with their first lead of the match getting the first two points. Back-to-back kills from Hope Leavy-Gaskins got the momentum going. Going back and forth, St. Thomas was able to create a three-point gap capitalizing on Jamestown errors and a big block from Barnes and Bruno. In a set that looked like it was going all in favor of the Bobcats, UJ made a run to notch it up at 12 all. After the scoreboard flipped 14-13 in favor of UJ they held their lead to the finish.
 
St. Thomas awaited their fate after the Jamestown and Corban match. If Corban won, it would force a one set tie breaker between the three teams. And just like fate, would have it, the season stayed alive for one more day as Corban defeated Jamestown in four sets.
 
STU was set to play Corban in a one set tiebreaker to 25, winner advanced to play Jamestown for a one set tiebreaker to advance to the quarterfinals. St. Thomas came out hot starting how they left off their match against Corban with a block solo from Tayla Barnes. Corban was able to pull away for aa 5-0 run after the first point scored. STU was able to work and fight their way back but the lead never came within less than two. Corban took the set 25-19 which ultimately ended the historic 2023 season.
 
Bianca Grassi ended pull play leading in digs (88) and digs per set (8). The team also led the field in digs per set at (21.36). St. Thomas was the only three seed to win a match in pool play and was in the only poll to force the tiebreaker set.
 
St. Thomas Volleyball would like to thank everyone for their support on the historic journey and will be back with new and bigger sights in store.