ST. PETER, Minn. –The Gustavus volleyball team is set to host the University of St. Thomas at 3 p.m. Saturday for a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference matchup. The Gusties enter the match with a 13-2 overall record and 4-0 mark in the MIAC, while the Tommies are 7-8 overall and 2-2 in the conference.
Live online coverage of tomorrow afternoon’s match begins at 3 p.m.
GUSTAVUS LINKS: ROSTER | STATS
ST. THOMAS LINKS: ROSTER | STATS
The Gusties enter Saturday’s match on a 13-game win streak after defeating No. 24-ranked Augsburg 3-1 Wednesday night in St. Peter. The 13-match win streak is tied for the third longest streak in the 47-year history of Gustavus volleyball.
The Gustie offense evenly distributed the attack with three players recording double-digit kills. Becca Woodstra (Sr., Minnetonka, Minn.) led the way with 12 kills on 33 attempts and six errors for a .182 attack percentage. Alyssa Taylor (Sr., Trimont, Minn.) was next with 11 kills and a .308 attack rate, while Lauren Hanson (Fy., Redwood Falls, Minn.) chipped in 10 kills and a .233 attack rate.
The defense also shared the wealth with three Gusties in double figures for digs. Libero Brittany Luethmers (Fy., Prior Lake, Minn.) paced the back line with a match-high 27 digs. Nora Holtan (Fy., Rochester, Minn.) added 20 digs, while Abby Leitch (So., Mankato, Minn.) posted 13. Holtan handled the setting responsibilities with 35 assists for a double-double.
After 15 matches this season, Taylor has been the go-to hitter for the Gusties as she ranks second in the MIAC with a .368 attack percentage. Taylor leads the league defensively at the net by averaging 1.15 blocks per set.
The 1975 Gustavus team will be honored before Saturday’s game as it celebrates its 40th anniversary reunion. The 1975 “Gustie Bees” went 21-7 overall and were the first Gustavus women’s team to compete in a national tournament.
St. Thomas never trailed on the scoreboard in any game on Wednesday and posted a 3-0 victory over visiting Hamline in MIAC play in St. Paul. UST prevailed by set scores of 25-10, 25-13 and 25-19.
St. Thomas used nine ace serves and a .309 hitting clip to end a home losing streak of three and evened its conference record through four matches.
The Pipers pulled within 18-17 in the third set but St. Thomas used a quick surge to close out the victory.
Taylor Lewis led the Tommies with 10 kills and hit .450; Brooke Reichart added nine kills and hit .389; Rebecca Hawkins had 18 assists, seven kills and three aces; Maggie Krieger had 13 digs; and Katharine Mallek had 14 assists and three aces.
Whitney Lloyd has been efficient on the kill for the Tommies as she ranks third in the league with a .343 attack percentage.