Setter Katie Maher’s 31 assists drove the St. Thomas volleyball team to its second consecutive NCAA regional championship with a 3-1 win over St. Benedict Saturday at Schoenecker Arena.

The team advances to the Elite Eight in Holland, Mich., next weekend to compete for the national title. The victory over the Blazers marked the Tommies’ 32nd consecutive win this season.

Coach Thanh Pham said that he was pleased to play the Blazers for the title.

“We had a great final with them last week,” Pham said. “We were honored to play them in the finals.”

Defensive specialist Kia Johnson said she was ecstatic with the team’s win.

“I have butterflies all over the place,” Johnson said. “It’s one thing to beat our rival, (but) it was great to do it on our home floor.”

Outside hitter Jill Greenfield used the crowd’s energy to her advantage when she served an ace against the Blazers’ defense to open set No. 1. Greenfield had four of the team’s eight aces.

The set continued in the Tommies’ favor when middle blocker Mackenzie Piechowski jousted the Blazers’ defense, putting her team ahead 12-7. St. Ben’s closed the gap late in the game. Tensions grew when Greenfield spotted an opening in the Blazers’ defense and had a stealthy roll shot to the middle of the court, tying the set at 17.

The set ended when middle blocker Paige Brimeyer cut through a St. Ben’s block, but it wasn’t enough. The Blazers came out on top in first set 25-23.

Outside hitter Nicole Potts said the match was less stressful because they had faced their opponent twice earlier in the season.

“We seen St. Ben’s so much (that) we know what they do,” Potts said. “Just knowing what they’re doing, not being caught off guard, being smart and staying ahead; we had just a calm energy the whole time.”

Set No. 2 displayed the Tommies’ team-oriented play when Piechowski and Potts pressed a double block. Potts and Piechowski had three blocks each in the match. The set proved to be a tug-of-war for the lead. Brimeyer ripped through the Blazers’ block late in the set and Tommies secured position for the win.

Johnson got fans on their feet when she served an ace that trickled over the net, putting the Tommies up 23-18. Greenfield pressed a solo block to end the second set in a 25-18 win for St. Thomas.

With the two teams holding onto a set win, Greenfield painted the line with her kill early on, giving her team a 6-4 lead. Potts tooled the Blazers’ double block putting the Tommies up 10-7; she hit .238 for the match. St. Thomas kept St. Ben’s in its control as Potts hit over the defense’s block, giving the team a 21-8 lead. It wasn’t until Greenfield pounded an overpass by the Blazers that the Tommies clinched set No. 3, 25-13.

With the title on the line, the Tommies stepped on the court with a determined attitude to take set No. 4. Johnson’s hustle was on display when she sprawled out for a tough hit, however the Blazers’ won the point. Johnson had eight of the teams 96 totals digs for the match.

Set No. 4 was close as the teams tied multiple times: 17-17, 18-18, 19-19 and 20-20. Opposite hitter Sara Atkinson took matters into her own hands when she crushed a kill over St. Ben’s. Greenfield then crafted a shot to the middle of the court, leaving the Blazers defenseless. St. Thomas took the final set 25-22.

Pham said as the team heads to Michigan, it must not look past its next game.

“We’ll have to get back in the gym and work hard,” Pham said. “We prepare for one match at a time.”

Sean Crotty can be reached at crot0230@stthomas.edu.