Miami Gardens, Fla. – Kicking off play in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Women's Volleyball National Championships at home for the third-straight season on Saturday afternoon, the 16th-seeded St. Thomas University avenged their earlier season loss to Loyola University New Orleans in a 3-1 (25-22, 20-25, 25-22, 25-18) victory.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: #16 St. Thomas 3, Loyola New Orleans 1
Records: #16 St. Thomas (26-4), Loyola New Orleans (29-9)
All-Time Series: STU leads 2-1
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Bobcats used an early 7-0 run in the opening set to take a 10-5 lead and kept the advantage for the rest of the frame, fending off a Wolf Pack rally that got them within one at 22-21
- Facing set point at 24-16 late in the second set, the Bobcats attempted a rally and scored four straight before Loyola closed the stanza.
- After splitting the initial 38 points, the Bobcats scored five of the ensuing six to take set point at 24-20.
- St. Thomas took the lead midway through the fourth set at 13-9 behind a 6-0 run and held the Wolf Pack without a run of consecutive points made it 24-18.
NOTEWORTHY:
- It is the third-straight season the Bobcats advanced out of the Opening Round.
- Tayla Barnes paced the offense behind 14 kills.
- Raya Mlyakova logged 11 kills on a .375 hitting percentage with 10 digs for a double-double.
- Alexandra Bruno added 11 kills and 13 digs for a double-double.
- Aleksandra Ivanovic chipped in eight kills and seven digs.
- Payton Bertke dished out 45 assists alongside 13 digs for a double-double.
- Fabiana Mucciola tied for the team lead with 13 digs.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
- The Bobcats ended the match with 53 kills on a .242 hitting percentage, LUNO tallied 50 on a .13 clip.
- STU served 12 aces while the visitors logged nine.
- St. Thomas recorded three solo blocks and four assisted blocks versus five solo and 10 assisted for Loyola New Orleans.
- The Bobcats held a 65-51 advantage in digs.
UP NEXT:
The Bobcats await their Poop Play assignment, which will be announced on Sunday, Nov. 23.