Volleyball outlasts Cobbers, claims MIAC title

October 23, 2003
The St. Thomas volleyball team pulled out a five-game marathon win over host Concordia Wednesday night in Moorhead, and in the process secured the school's second consecutive MIAC regular-season championship.

The Tommies won 30-23, 30-27, 25-30, 32-34, 15-13 to move to 9-1 on the MIAC season and 23-5 overall with one regular-season match left. St. Mary's lost in four games to Carleton, leaving St. Mary's and Concordia tied for second at 7-3 with one match left.

The Tommies, who finish their MIAc season at home next Wednesday vs. Augsburg, secured a first-round bye for the six-team MIAC playoffs and will host a semifinal match Nov. 6 (7:30 p.m.). If the Tommies win that match, they will host the championship match Nov. 8 (7 p.m.).

The Cobbers survived eight match-point situations before finally losing on Kristin Pins' kill. Jane Gibbs had 65 assists; Amie Lee Aschenbeck hit .304 and had 21 kills and five blocks; Emily Buehler had 30 digs and 14 kills; Erika Wetzel had 13 kills, 21 digs and five blocks; Rachelle Dosch had 19 digs; Lisa Yonke had 22 digs; and Jenny Smith had six kills and three blocks and hit .333.

see Cobber story, box score here