MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Fueled by a historic showing from the 2025 Sun Conference Freshman of the Year
Raya Mlyakova on Saturday afternoon, the 22nd-ranked St. Thomas University Women's Volleyball Team thwarted a comeback effort from visiting Southeastern University that pushed the Bobcats to five sets in a 3-2 (25-22, 25-21, 20-25, 21-25, 15-11) triumph
INSIDE THE MATCHUPS:
Final: #22 St. Thomas 3, RV Southeastern 2
Record: #22 St. Thomas (13-5, 7-0 Sun Conference), Southeastern (11-4, 5-1 Sun Conference)
All-Time Series: STU leads 30-10
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Tied in a 20-20 stalemate late in the opening set, the Bobcats pulled ahead behind back-to-back points while holding the visitors without a run of consecutive points down the stretch to take the first frame.
- Trailing late in the second set 19-18, St. Thomas flipped the one-point lead off back-to-back tallies and held Southeastern to just two points for the rest of the frame to move up 2-0 overall.
- Southeastern scored the opening three points of the third set and never trailed in the stanza.
- Holding a one-point lead midway through the fourth stanza, Southeastern used 5-0 run to extend its lead to 22-16 while fending off a late STU rally that made it a three-point contest at 23-20 to force a fifth set.
- The Bobcats scored the initial four points of the tiebreaker frame and never trailed to maintain their undefeated Sun Conference record.
NOTEWORTHY:
- Mlyakova boasted 28 kills on a .400 clip while adding eight digs and three blocks (one solo, two assisted)
- Alexandra Bruno added 18 digs and 11 kills for a double-double.
- Payton Bertke dished out 52 assists alongside 17 digs for a double-double.
- Sofia Sanchez anchored the defense behind 24 digs.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
- The Bobcats ended the match with 68 kills on a .272 hitting percentage; Southeastern tallied 68 on a .230 clip.
- Both sides served five aces
- St. Thomas recorded one solo block and 12 assisted blocks versus two solo and six assisted for the Fire.
- The Bobcats held a 89-79 advantage in digs.
UP NEXT:
The Bobcats travel to Webber International on Friday, Oct. 9 with first serve slated for 4:00 pm.
