ROSEVILLE, Minn. — Defensive specialist Katie Foster served for 10 consecutive points for Wartburg College in the fifth set Thursday at Ericksen Center to defeat the St. Thomas volleyball team 3-2 and eliminate it from the NCAA tournament.
The Knights (8-0 conference, 25-5 overall) racked up 10 points before the Tommies (10-1 MIAC, 25-7 overall) scored in the final set, which ended 15-3, the largest point margin of the game.
“Obviously that (lead) makes it easier in the fifth set, but I think everybody did a nice job,” Wartburg coach Jennifer Walker said. “It was fun to watch them play.”
Wartburg took sets one, three and five, like St. Ben’s in the MIAC championship last Saturday, to beat St. Thomas.
“(Senior middle blocker) Aryn Jones kind of lit it up in the third set,” Walker said, “and that made a big difference in the momentum of the game.
Jones led the Knights with 19 kills, seven blocks and three aces.
“We were able to spread the ball out … so it makes it that much harder for teams to pick a person to kind of focus in on, and that’s been a strength of ours all season,” Jones said.
Thursday’s win was Wartburg’s first over St. Thomas since 2004.
“If you look back on our record, we’re really good at five-setters, and I think that’s because we have this undying fire in us,” said outside hitter Maddie Miller, who chalked up 10 kills for Wartburg. “I think that shows to how we practice and how we work in the off-season as well in every athlete.”
At the end of the fourth quarter, middle blocker Julia Spacek suffered an ankle injury while the Tommies were in set point. The team went on to win the fourth set and force a fifth on the Knights, but had to play without Spacek, who led St. Thomas in total attacks.
Thursday’s loss ended the St. Thomas careers of five seniors: Grace Duffy, Ellie Etzell, Whitney Lloyd, Brooke Reichart and Emma Teal. Coach Thanh Pham said the team’s sisterhood is what he’ll remember most about the 2017 squad.
“This is my fifteenth year and this is the first time I’ve actually seen it,” Pham said. “In terms of how much they truly, not only care for, but take care of, each other.”
Lloyd said she can’t wait to return to watch the 2018 team and thinks it has a promising season ahead.
“There’s so much potential there,” said Lloyd, who had seven blocks and 22 total attacks. “I don’t think they even realize how good they are.”
“We are so deep in talent and so deep in love,” Duffy agreed with tears in her eyes. “You don’t really see that a lot, so I think our underclassmen have a lot to look forward to.”
Wartburg will play the winner of Wisconsin-La Crosse and Gustavus Friday at 5 p.m. in the next round of the tournament.
Lauren Andrego can be reached at lauren.andrego@stthomas.edu.