Game Information
Score: Keiser 0, No. 21 St. Thomas 3 (19-25, 19-25, 21-25)
Records: Keiser (11-4, 2-3), St. Thomas (16-2, 5-1)
Location: Miami Gardens, Fla.
St. Thomas Starters: M. Markus, K. Griffin, W. Battoe, S. Bawek, D. Nowaczyk, C. Durr; libero – H. Bannister
Keiser Starters: N. McKown, C. Zamora, V. Hietala, N. Papineau, S. Thompson, M. Minke; libero – M. Leff
 
Highlights
Keiser Volleyball dropped another hard fought three-set match on the road, this time at No. 21 St. Thomas on Wednesday evening. With the loss, Keiser falls to 11-4 and 2-3 in conference while St. Thomas avenges the upset earlier in the year to improve to 16-2, 5-1. Veera Hietala led the team in kills with eight. Meanwhile Nicole Papineau paced the team in assists with 26 and Nikki McKown led the way in digs with 15.
 
How it Happened
Set One:
The two squads were deadlocked much of the first set with six ties in the game's first 20 points. The Seahawks then took an 11-9 advantage before St. Thomas reclaimed the lead themselves, 13-12. The two squads were interlocked at 15 apiece before the Bobcats rattled off two points to take their first two-point lead of the opening set. After the Seahawks closed the gap to 17-16, St. Thomas notched five unanswered points to take a commanding six-point advantage. Keiser could not close the gap to more than four as St. Thomas pulled away to claim the first set, 25-19.
 
Set Two:
The Seahawks trailed by no more than two and led by as many as three points on four different occasions in the second set. Keiser claimed its first three point advantage at 12-9 and maintained the lead until the Bobcats rallied to tie the set at 18 apiece before taking the late 19-18 advantage. Once St. Thomas grasped the late lead, the Bobcats did not let off the gas, stretching the lead to 22-19 and forcing a Keiser timeout. Straight out of the timeout, St. Thomas closed the set with a 3-0 run to clinch another 25-19 victory.
 
Set Three:
Much like they had all night, the two squads battled hard in the final set, splitting the first 40 points to set up a nail-biting finish. With the set tied at 20-20, St. Thomas claimed the 21-20 lead for good, winning three more unanswered points to take the 24-20 lead. The Seahawks won the next point but could not close the gap as the Bobcats won the final set, 25-21, to sweep the upset-minded Seahawks.
 
Team Leaders:
Keiser
Kills: 8 – Veera Hietala
Assists: 26 – Nicole Papineau
Digs: 15 – Nikki McKown
 
St. Thomas
Kills: 12 – Whitney Battoe
Assists: 23 – Dana Nowaczyk
Digs: 17 – Haley Bannister
 
Up Next
Keiser returns to action on Saturday when the Seahawks welcome the Southeastern Fire into West Palm Beach, Fla. The Seahawks split the season series last year, with the victory going to the home team in both matches.