Tommie Sports - Volleyball

Volleyball tops Blazers in five sets, now 8-0

W, 3-2
St. Ben's (W), September 12, 2009

Emily Foster (24) and teammates celebrate a point in Saturday's victory. (Greg Smith photo)

For the second year in a row, the No. 7-ranked St. Thomas volleyball team scored a five-set win over St. Ben's to claim the championship of the Augsburg Invitational.

The Tommies (8-0) won on Saturday 25-15, 25-12, 13-25, 18-25, 15-6 over the 21st-ranked Blazers (5-4), who returned all their players from a 2008 region champion squad.

Junior setter Emily Foster and freshman libero Kaitlin Wachter were among eight named to the all-tournament team.

The Toms capped a 4-0 tourney for the second consecutive weekend. Earlier in the day they cruised past UW-Stevens Point, 25-18, 25-18, 25-21.

St. Thomas ran its win streak over the Blazers to nine matches, including three five-set decisions in the last 12 months.

UST hit less than .100 over the first four games vs. St. Ben's but hit .471 in the decisive fifth game. Kyley Crotty had 12 kills and 22 digs, and Foster had 35 assists and 15 digs. Wachtler added 34 digs.

The Tommies are off to an 8-0 start for the first time since 2006. They start MIAC play Wednesday at St. Olaf against the 8-1 Oles.

Click here to see UST season stats and links to weekend box scores:

http://www.tommiesports.com/vlbl/stats/

Check back here Monday for additional photos.

Click here to view more Greg Smith action photos:

www.gsmithsports.com

Action pic