Winston-Salem, N.C – Highlighted by the fourth-highest hitting percentage in a match in National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) history on Friday, the seventh-ranked St. Thomas University Men's Volleyball Team swept host Carolina University (25-17, 25-13, 25-10) after surviving a five-set battle with Bluefield (25-18, 23-25, 25-22, 22-25, 15-10).

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: #7 St. Thomas 3, Bluefield 2 | #7 St. Thomas 3, Carolina 0
Records: #3 St. Thomas (13-3, 7-0 AAC) | Bluefield (3-6, 1-3 AAC) | Carolina (1-7, 0-4 AAC)
All-Time Series: STU leads both 2-0


HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME 1):

• The Bobcats broke a 7-7 start to the contest with back-to-back points and kept the lead for the rest of the first set, fending off a Bluefield rally that got them within one at 14-13 with five-straight to pull ahead 19-13.
• St. Thomas held the advantage until a late 3-0 run by Bluefield gave them the second set at 25-23.
• Trailing midway through the third set 13-10, the Bobcats scored three-straight to knot the score before taking the lead at 15-14 and stayed ahead for the rest of the frame.
• The Rams flipped the advantage midway through the fourth behind an 8-0 run that gave them a 21-18 lead.
• After splitting the opening six points of the tiebreaker game, the Bobcats scored three-straight and eight of the ensuing nine to take an 11-4 lead.

 
NOTEWORTHY (GAME 1):

• Michael Marsans boasted 21 kills on a .600 hitting percentage, adding three service aces and two assisted blocks. 
• Gabriel Negao added 11 kills and three service aces.
• Rafael Obrusnik boasted 41 assists in four sets.
• Cameron Gray anchored the defense behind 10 digs.

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE (GAME 2):

• The Bobcats ended the match with 60 kills on a .323 hitting percentage; Bluefield tallied 49 on a .327 clip.
• St. Thomas served 13 aces while the opposition logged five.
• St. Thomas recorded one solo block and eight assisted versus 14 assisted for Bluefield.
• Life held a 43-33 advantage in digs.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME 2):

• The Bobcats hit over .600 in every set while holding the host to a .000 clip in sets two and three to complete the sweep.

NOTEWORTHY (GAME 2):

• Negrao tallied 10 kills on a .769 hitting percentage.
• Kaelen Ingram added eight kills on a .636 clip.
• Obrusnik dished out 27 assists.
• Gray chipped in seven digs.

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE (GAME 2):

• The Bobcats ended the match with 36 kills on a .627 hitting percentage; Carolina tallied 18 on a .068 clip.
• St. Thomas served 11 aces versus five for the Bears.
• St. Thomas recorded two solo blocks and 10 assisted while Carolina tallied one solo and two assisted.
• STU held a 20-11 advantage in digs.

  
UP NEXT:
The Bobcats trek to Warner on Saturday, Feb. 7 for a 7:00 pm conference clash.