With high expectations as the preseason favorites to win the Sun Conference, St. Thomas University’s volleyball team has posted a fast start out of the gates in the 2015 season with an early 7-2 record after successful runs at the Athletes Meals Classic and The Athletes Meals Invitational.
After sweeping both their matches in straight sets over Keiser and Florida Memorial at the St. Thomas University’s Tri-Match, the Bobcats won every contest at The Athletes Meals Classic, held August 21-22. STU defeated Dakota State in four sets (25-14, 21-25, 25-17, 25-22), then won in straight sets (25-15, 25-14, 25-15) over Webber International.
That set up a dramatic match as St. Thomas came from behind to defeat Baker 3-2 (25-15, 21-25, 26-28, 27-25, 15-10) at The Athletes Meals Classic at the Fernandez Family Center. Senior defensive specialist Jordan Wiese and senior middle blocker Samantha Garza were each named to the All-Tournament team.
The following weekend at The Athletes Meals Invitational, the Bobcats went 2-2 against some of the top teams in the NAIA. STU, which was among the teams receiving votes in the preseason NAIA Coaches Top-25 poll, lost to Cornerstone, another team also receiving votes in the poll, to open the event. The Bobcats bounced back with a four-set win over Olivet Nazarene (26-28, 25-22, 25-19, 25-21) before falling to Missouri Baptist the third ranked team in the nation.
STU then defeated MidAmerican Nazarene, another team receiving votes in the poll, in four sets (25-9, 25-22, 21-25, 27-25) in the finale of The Athletes Meals Invitational. Junior setter Dana Nowaczk and sophomore outside hitter Whitney Battoe were named to the Invitational's All-Tournament team.
As a result, STU student-athletes swept The Sun Conference's three Player of the Week Awards for the week ending August 30. Garza was named Sun Conference Volleyball Attacker of the Week; senior Sydney Maynard was named Defender of the Week; and Nowaczyk was named Setter of the Week.
Garza has recorded double-digit kills in five matches thus far this season including a season-high 19 kills vs. Baker at The Athletes Meals Classic. Garza leads The Sun Conference in total kills (83)
Maynard leads The Sun Conference in total digs (151). She recorded double-digit digs in six of the nine matches for the Bobcats including a 30-dig match vs. Baker and a season-high 36 digs vs. Dakota State. In the service game, she has registered nine aces including a season-high six aces in a 3-0 sweep over Florida Memorial.
Nowaczyk, who ranks ninth in the nation in total assists, led the Bobcats over MidAmerica Nazarene in the event's finale with 47 assists and had two aces. Her leadership propelled the Bobcats to a 5-0 start to the season which included a clutch win over Baker in five sets. She leads the conference in assists.
The Bobcats returned to action against more national foes at last weekend's Mariner Invitational in Brunswick, Georgia. On Friday, the Bobcats faced Marin Methodist (Tenn.), followed by another team receiving votes in the NAIA poll in Bryan (Tenn.) STU’s next opponent was Bethel (Ind.) followed by a match vs. 20th ranked and tournament host Coastal Georgia.