Kingsport, Tenn. - With history in sight on Saturday afternoon, the seventh-ranked St. Thomas Men's Volleyball Team defeated Reinhardt 3-1 (25-16, 21-25, 25-21, 25-19) in the 2026 Appalachian Athletic Conference Championship Final to become the first program to win the banner back-to-back.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: #7 St. Thomas 3, Reinhardt 1
Records: #7 St. Thomas (24-4, 14-0 AAC) | Reinhardt (22-6, 12-2 AAC)
All-Time Series: STU leads 5-0
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- STU boasted a .550 hitting percentage in the opening set while holding the Eagles to a .107 clip to take a 1-0 overall lead.
- Reinhardt scored the opening three points of the second set and kept the lead for the duration of the frame.
- Trailing early in the third set 9-8, the Bobcats took the lead behind a 3-0 run while holding the opposition without a run greater than two for the rest of the stanza to move one game away from the trophy.
- The Bobcats overcame a 15-13 deficit in the fourth set behind a 9-0 run that moved STU three points away from victory.
NOTEWORTHY:
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
- The Bobcats ended the match with 46 kills on a .326 hitting percentage; Reinhardt tallied 44 on a .128 clip.
- Both sides served one ace.
- St. Thomas recorded five solo blocks with 14 assisted blocks versus one solo block and 18 assisted for Reinhardt.
- Reinhardt held a 31-27 advantage in digs.
UP NEXT:
The Bobcats await their Pool Play pairings at the NAIA National Championship.
