Houston, Texas - The University of St. Thomas volleyball team wrapped up the second day of the Avery Rae Invitational by splitting their two matches. After a competitive early-morning outing against LeTourneau University, winning the first match in three sets: 25-23, 25-20, and 26-24, the Celts hosted the University Mary Hardin Baylor in an action-packed four-set match, ultimately falling 3-1. The late-season non-conference tournament results push UST to 12-15 overall but do not affect their SCAC standings.
UST vs LETU
In the day's opening match, St. Thomas welcomed future SCAC opponent, the LeTourneau Yellowjackets, to the Jerabeck Activity and Athletic Center. The Celts held a consistent lead despite strong pressure from the Yellowjackets, the 1st set ultimately edging out a tight 25-23 win. The second set continued the back-and-forth energy; the teams were even at 7-7 before the UST went on a decisive 8-2 run. This momentum carried them to another win at 25-20.
The final set was intense from the start, tied at 6-6 before the Celts surged ahead. However, LeTourneau made a late rally, even grabbing a 24-23 lead. It looked like the match would head to a 4th set, but Coach Keanne Burt called a timeout to regroup, and St. Thomas took the following three points to claim the set 26-24, completing their 3-0 sweep. Leading the attack was Alexis Bodunrin, with 16 kills, hitting .184 and adding two service aces, while Audrey Cataline followed closely with 13 kills and 16 digs. Laynee Beam showed efficiency with a .333 hitting percentage and tallied eight kills, while Kendall Howard anchored the defense with a match-high 21 assists and 13 digs.
UST vs UMHB
In their second match of the day, St. Thomas dropped a four-set battle against the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, ultimately falling 3-1. The first set was competitive from the start, but UMHB found a rhythm, going on a run that the Celts struggled to disrupt, resulting in a 25-17 loss. In the second set, UST came out firing, taking control and securing a convincing 25-10 victory. UMHB adjusted in the
third set, pushing early, but Celts closed the gap to 23-20. Despite UST's resolve, UMHB held on to win the set. In the fourth and final set, UMHB took an early lead and never looked back, ending the match with a 25-18 victory over the hosts.
Statistically, the Celts saw solid performances across the board. Freshmen Ariana Willis led the team with eight kills on a .333 hitting percentage and contributed two blocks. Sophomore Alexis Bodunrin matched her eight kills and added two aces. On defense, Kara Spice had a standout game, anchoring the back row with a remarkable 29 digs. Audrey Cataline also made her mark with nine kills and three service aces, contributing to both offense and defense with 19 digs. Up Next
The Celts close out the regular season next weekend when they travel to Concordia in Austin, TX, to play their last three conference matches before heading into the SCAC Tournament. St. Thomas opens the weekend against the Schreiner Mountaineers.
