MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The St. Thomas University volleyball team kicks off its 2024 campaign with the first Bobcats' athletic event of the 2024-25 academic year on Thursday, Aug. 15 against Missouri Baptist with first serve slated for 6 pm. Following the season opener, STU hits the road to take on Indiana Tech, Dakota State, Benedictine and Valley City State at the Keiser Tournament on Friday, Aug. 16 and Saturday, Aug. 17.
Match Information: Missouri Baptist
Date: Thursday, Aug. 15 | 6:00 p.m.
Location: Miami Gardens, Fla. | Fernandez Family Center
Media Coverage: Live Stats |
Live Video
Match Information: Keiser Tournament
Date: Friday, Aug. 16 | 2:00 p.m. (Indiana Tech), 6:00 p.m. (Dakota State)
Saturday, Aug. 17 | 12:00 pm (Benedictine), 4:00 p.m. (Valley City State)
Location: Miami Gardens, Fla. | Fernandez Family Center
Media Coverage: Live Stats |
Live Video (Game 1) |
Live Video (Game 2) |
Live Video (Game 3) |
Live Video (Game 4)
About St. Thomas
St. Thomas plays its first game at the Fernandez Family Center since besting Marian in the opening round of the NAIA National Tournament which advanced the Bobcats to Pool Play at the Final Site on Saturday, Nov. 18. The reigning Sun Conference Champions, holders of the last three regular season titles and two Tournament banners, led the league in 2023 behind a conference-best 13.81 kills per set on a .233 hitting percentage, 12.84 assists, 16.35 digs on top of 1.75 service aces which ranked second and 2.12 blocks which ranked third.
Two-time Sun Conference Libero of the Year
Bianca Grassi boasted a league-best 5.66 digs in 2023, adding a team-high 0.33 service aces. Setter of the Year
Payton Bertke quarterbacked the offense behind a conference-high 10.78 assists, feeding the ball to reigning Freshman of the Year
Alexandra Bruno who paces the returners with 3.02 kills while All-Conference First Team member
Sana Dennis hit a conference-best .344 on top of 1.05 blocks which ranked second.
About the Spartans
Missouri Baptists takes its annual trip to South Florida on the heels of a 27-7 2023 season that ended in Pool Play at the Final Site of the NAIA National Tournament. MBU averaged 14.0 kills on a .266 clip with 13.1 assists, 14.9 digs, 2.0 service aces and 1.9 blocks.
Gabi Jakubowska highlights the returns for MBU after boasting 3.79 kills last season on a .308 hitting percentage with 0.68 blocks to garner NAIA All-American honors. All-Midwest Conference Second-Team member Maiana Coelho dished out a team-best 8.86 assists, while Kristen van der Vleuten blocked 0.98 attempts.
Up Next
The Bobcats host Barry University on Wednesday, Aug. 21 at 6 p.m.
