SAN ANTONIO – The Celts of the University of St. Thomas split their second day at the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference pool play at Trinity University on Saturday, giving themselves a pair of wins in two days.
UST (8-16, 5-9 SCAC) swept Austin College in three sets before falling in four sets to ranked host Trinity.
With two wins over the weekend, the Celts were able to claim a pair of victories at a SCAC weekend for the first time this season.
The Celts play their final home match Tuesday when they host East Texas Baptist. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Jerabeck Center.
Celts 3, Austin College 0
St. Thomas started the day with a three-set win over Austin College. Scores of the match were 25-21, 25-23, and 25-17.
Alyssa Ajlouny (SO/Cypress, Texas) led the Celts with 12 kills and six total blocks. Alaina Lanik (FR/Richmond, Texas) knocked down eight kills in addition to handing out 13 assists and tallying 20 digs, while Emily Jaroszewski (JR/Sugar Land, Texas) put away seven kills and hit .429 while taking part in four blocks.
Kelsie Walker (JR/Baytown, Texas) handed out a team-high 19 assists, while Kaylyn Latin (JR/Houston, Texas) led the defensive effort with 30 digs. Alysse Villadiego (SR/Richmond, Texas) recorded 15 digs for the Celts.
The Celts were able to pull away late in sets one and three. In a close set two, the Celts trailed 23-22 before running off the final three points to take the set.
The win over Austin College avenged an earlier loss to the Kangaroos in September. In that match, the Celts led two sets to none before falling in five.
Trinity (Texas) 3, Celts 1
The Celts were then tasked with facing the host Trinity Tigers, who are ranked No. 8 in the NCAA's Division III by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. UST took the opening set before the Tigers came back to win the next three.
Scores of the match were 22-25, 25-16, 25-16, and 25-12.
Ajlouny again led the Celts' frontline with nine kills, while Lanik handed out a team-high 14 assists. Latin led the defense with 27 digs, followed by 15 digs from Mariah Regan (SO/Katy, Texas). Walker and Rebecca Estrada (SO/Richmond, Texas) handed out eight assists apiece.
