Marietta, Ga. - Taking on 14th-ranked Reinhardt in a matchup filled with Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) playoff implications, the sixth-ranked St. Thomas University overcame a 2-1 overall deficit to defeat the Eagles 3-2 (30-28, 22-25, 27-25, 15-10) to clinch the top seed in the conference tournament and a share of the Regular Season crown with two games remaining in the regular season.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: #6 St. Thomas 3, #14 Reinhardt 2
Records: #6 St. Thomas (19-4, 12-0 AAC) | $14 Reinhardt (16-4, 10-2 AAC)
All-Time Series: STU leads 4-0
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Facing set point in the opening game via a 24-22 score, STU rallied to force a set point o their own at 25-24 before taking the frame at 30-28.
- Reinhardt scored the opening two points of the second set and never trailed in the stanza.
- STU forced set point in a competitive third set at 24-22, only for a 5-1 Reinhardt spree moving them one game away from the overall win.
- The Bobcats overcame an early 7-5 deficit and turned it into a 14-9 lead before fending off a comeback effort from Reinhardt that got them within one at 21-20 to force the tiebreaker game.
- St. Thomas scored the initial two points in the first-to-15 fifth set and never trailed.
NOTEWORTHY:
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
- The Bobcats ended the match with 62 kills on a .317 hitting percentage; Life tallied 66 on a .273 clip.
- STU served four aces while the Eagles logged eight.
- St. Thomas recorded two solo blocks and 22 assisted blocks versus three solo and 18 assisted for Reinhardt.
- STU held a 38-36 advantage in digs.
UP NEXT:
The Bobcats head to Babson Park, Fla. for their final two games of the regular season, kicking things off against Carolina on Thursday, April 2 with first serve set for 5 p.m.
