ST. PETER, Minn. -- The St. Catherine University volleyball team ended the 2023 season falling in the semifinal round of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Playoffs to the top seeded Gustauvs Adolphus College Golden Gusties 3-0 on Thursday evening in St. Peter. The Wildcats finish the season 16-10 with a conference record of 6-5. 

Maggie Rosen led the Wildcats with nine kills hitting .350 and one block. Liz Rosen followed with eight kills hitting .241 while also averaging 3.67 digs per set with eleven total. Madison Fagan and Mallory Johnson each had two blocks while Fagan added six kills and Johnson had four. First-year setter, Ella Rustand added three aces and eight assists with junior setter Lucia Neuman recorded eight assists and one ace. 

The first set started out strong for the Wildcats alternating points with the Gusties through 8-8. Gustavus dominated the set from that point going on back to back four point runs and closing out the set with two service aces. 

In set two, the Wildcats battled to come back from a slow start getting within two points but Gustavus never gave up holding onto the advantage to take the set 25-20 despite St. Kate's tallying their best hitting percentage of the match. 

St. Kate's challenged Gustavus in the third set with seven lead changes and ten tied scores but the Gusties came out on top edging out the Wildcats 25-23.