MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Behind 12 service aces, nine blocks and a .342 hitting percentage on Wednesday evening, the 22nd-ranked St. Thomas University Women's Volleyball Team swept visiting Florida Memorial University (25-8, 25-14, 25-8) in the kickoff to the 2026-27 "Battle of Miami Gardens".

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: #22 St. Thomas 3, Florida Memorial 0
Record: #22 St. Thomas (11-5, 5-0 Sun Conference), Florida Memorial (0-10, 0-4 Sun Conference) 
All-Time Series: STU leads 35-4


HOW IT HAPPENED: 

• The Bobcats scored the opening four points of the contest and never trailed in the first set, boasting a .478 hitting percentage during the frame.
• Trailing early in the second set 8-5, the Bobcats flipped the advantage behind an 8-1 stretch that that pushed STU ahead 13-9.
• St. Thomas countered a point by FMU to start the third set with 12-straight to take a commanding 12-1 advantage.

 
NOTEWORTHY:

• Raya Mlyakova paced the Bobcats behind nine kills on a .368 clip alongside eight digs and seven service aces.
• Ranya Mehta boasted six blocks (one solo, five assisted).
• Payton Bertke dished out 25 assists while tying for the team lead with eight digs.

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• The Bobcats ended the match with 38 kills on a .342 hitting percentage; Florida Memorial tallied 10 on a -.143 clip.
• STU served 12 aces while the visitors tallied four.
• St. Thomas recorded two solo blocks and 15 assisted versus two assisted for the Lions.

• The Bobcats held a 37-24 advantage in digs.

 
 
UP NEXT:
The Bobcats travel to Ave Maria on Wednesday, Sept. 30 with first serve set for 7:00 pm.