With cross-town rival and #12 ranked St. Thomas in the gym, the Wildcat volleyball squad took the court before a packed house on Saturday afternoon.  The crowd was in luck, as the Tommies and Wildcats delivered an exciting and tightly contested match.  After splitting the first two closely contested sets, the Tommies pulled away for a 3-1 victory.  It was the first home loss for the Wildcats in two seasons.  The Tommies moved to 19-3 (5-1 MIAC) on the season, while St. Kate's went to 13-8 (2-4 MIAC). 

The Tommies took control of the scoreboard first, getting several points ahead of the Wildcats, who kept close but couldn't gain ground.  St. Thomas won 25-20 to get the early lead.  The Wildcats came back in game two, a see-saw affair that saw the lead change multiple times.  When the Wildcats looked to be in control and ready to take the set, the Tommies tied the game at 24 and the teams traded points back and forth until Nicole Pothen served out the final points of the set to even the score at one all. 

The third set seemed like it would be a repeat of the second with the teams trading points back and forth early on.  The Tommies went on a run midway through the set, aided by a few Wildcat miscues, and pulled away to win 25-16.  Their momentum carried over into the final set, which they won 25-13.  The Wildcats didn't do themselves any favors in the final two sets; after commiting only one attack error in the second set, they had seven in each of the last two games to help the Tommies pull away. 

Pothen provided steady defense for the Wildcats in the back row all match, with 16 digs.  Brittni Wangerin added 13 digs and 16 kills. 

The team continues conference place on Tuesday, October 11th, facing off against St. Ben's at home.  Come out and support the Wildcats and the fight against breast cancer on Dig Pink night at 7 pm. 

Box Score