MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (September 16, 2023) - Sun Conference play began this week as St. Thomas University (STU) Volleyball (8-2, 1-0 SUN) took to the Fernandez Family Center on Saturday afternoon. Play opened against Webber International University (6-5, 1-1 SUN) and earned a dominate win, sweeping the Warriors in three sets (25-17, 25-21, 25-9).

Set one had the Bobcats rolling with a 3-0 start as Amanda Allende and Tayla Barnes picked up their first kills and Bianca Grassi served an ace on just the second play of the match. STU was able to rally off to a 11-5 stint and forced a Webber timeout. St. Thomas kept momentum in their side from the break and scored the first point back. 

Peyton Bertke was able to help the offense keep it going, holding serve for five straight plays. Alexandra MacAskill had two monster kills that set the tone that the attack was unstoppable coming from all different angles. Bertke had the set solidifying kill getting a free ball and dumping it perfectly in no man's land in the back left corner of the court.

The second set was a bit more of a battle with Webber taking the initial lead. STU was able to work their way back in it as Alexandra Bruno switched the pace and flipped the scoreboard at 7-6. Bruno fed into the lead holding serve for four straight plays and forcing a Warrior timeout. The defense added fuel coming up with three big blocks of walls made from Bertke, Allende, Barnes, and Sana Dennis. 

In the final set, a heavy foot was on the gas pedal for the Bobcats as they dominated the third set with a convincing 25-9 set win. A new rotation to start the set did not change the outcome. Isabel Narbutas, Melanie Chiquillo, and Isadora Tavares joined in on the fun and came out and executed on the back row, the sets, and the blocks. Hope Leavy-Gaskins also added the attack party picking up four kills in just one set. 

Allende closed out with 11-kills on the afternoon to lead the team once again. MacAskill and Bruno were behind with seven a piece. Both defenses evened out at nine blocks. Service aces were lopsided in favor of STU 7-1 with Bruno getting three. 

This was the Bobcats second highest hitting percentage in a match at .337 while holding an opponent to the second lowest this season at .049. This is the ninth straight match win against the Warriors dating back to 2019.

St. Thomas will have a three match week coming up with one non-conference matchup at home against Florida College on Tuesday. Then heading across the street for the Battle of Miami Gardens at Florida Memorial on Wednesday. Closing out the week on the road at Southeastern on Saturday. 

-STU-