SHERMAN, Texas -- University of St. Thomas upset Blue Division top seed Colorado College, 3-1, and earned its first-ever trip to the SCAC Volleyball Championship semifinal round in tournament quarterfinal play Friday afternoon on the campus of Austin College. Official Championships Website | Photo Album | Tournament Stats | Interview w/ University of St. Thomas head coach Keanne Burt | Interview with St. Thomas senior setter Kendall Howard
The Celts advance to play Southwestern in Friday night's second semifinal, which is scheduled to tip at 7:00 pm CST. Southwestern advanced with a 3-0 sweep of McMurry in a quarterfinal match played at University of Dallas.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Down most of the first set, and trailing 22-19, Colorado College won seven of the next nine points to take a come-from-behind, 26-24, first-set victory.
- St. Thomas responded with three straight set wins to earn the victory, taking the next three games 25-23, 25-17 and 25-23.
- Leading 24-21 in the fourth set, CC responded with two straight points to cut the Celts' lead to 24-23, but UST's Laynee Beam pounded her 12th kill of the match to send her team to the SCAC semifinals for the first time in program history.
- St. Thomas outhit Colorado College, .267 to .230.
UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Alexis Bodunrin: 12 kills, 9 digs
- Laynee Beam: 12 kills, 4 blocks
- Audrey Cataline: 9 kills, 2 service aces, 12 digs
- Jazilyn Davis: 9 kills, 1 block
- Kendall Howard: 26 assists, 10 digs
COLORADO COLLEGE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Carolyn Dormady: 13 kills, 7 digs, 1 service ace
- Camille Sherrill: 13 kills, 20 digs, 1 service ace
- Brooke Brilliant: 13 kills, 3 blocks, 1 service ace
- Annie Steger: 46 assist, 15 digs
NOTABLES
- CC had swept St. Thomas during the regular season, winning 3-0 on Sept. 20 and 3-1 on Oct. 11.
- St. Thomas had been 0-4 in its previous four tournament appearances.
- Colorado had advanced or played in the semifinal round each year since 2008. The Tigers last lost in the quarterfinal round its first season in the SCAC in 2007.
UP NEXT
St. Thomas improves to 15-16 and advances to the semifinals to take on Southwestern University (22-5) this evening at 7 p.m. CT. Colorado College sees its season come to end with a 17-10 overall mark.
