It was an exciting Friday night at Butler Center as the St. Kate’s volleyball team hosted nationally-ranked St. Thomas. It was Purple Friday and a large crowd was on hand, along with St. Catherine Athletics sponsor Jimmy John’s throwing their gourmet sandwiches to spectators to help build an electrifying atmosphere.
But the forceful atmosphere, large crowd, and sandwiches were not enough for the Wildcats, as they fell to the #10 Tommies 1-3 in a hard-fought match.
The first set was close as both teams played to an 8-8 tie. But St. Thomas took 12 of the next 15 points to go up 20-11. The Wildcats were not able to overcome the deficit, instead trading points with the Tommies and dropping 17-25.
Like the beginning of the first set, the teams traded points to an 8-8 tie. This time, however, the Wildcats crept to a 21-14 lead. St. Thomas mounted a rally, putting together 5 straight points, but St. Kate’s put an abrupt end to the rally to take the set 25-19.
The Wildcats took the momentum from the second set into the third, taking a 19-11 lead. But St. Thomas rallied, eventually tying the score at 23-23. The Tommies took the next two points to take the set 23-25.
Despite dropping the third set, St. Kate’s came out fighting in the fourth. The teams played to a 13-13 tie before St. Thomas took a two point lead, 13-15. The Tommies continued the two point lead to 20-18 until they took 5 of the last 6 points to seal the win.
The loss brings the Wildcats to 17-11 on the year, 5-4 in the M.I.A.C.
St. Kate’s hosts #16 St. Benedict on Wednesday, October 28th at 7:00 PM at Butler Center.