First-year outside hitter Libby Mattila tied for a team-best with 12 kills in a 3-0 loss to Western Illinois University Tuesday at Schoenecker Arena.
St. Thomas (2-13) kept the game close in each set against the Leathernecks (3-13), but missing players and a grueling Division 1 schedule hurt the Tommies, who have played three home matches in the past five days. The Tommies lost 25-21, 25-19 and 25-18.
“The Division 1 schedule grind is a real thing and we’re just fighting through it right now,” coach Thanh Pham said. “This is our long week.”
The Tommies gained their first conference win last Thursday against North Dakota 3-2, which was also the Leathernecks’ only conference win prior to tonight. Western Illinois defeated North Dakota 3-1 on Saturday, Oct. 2.
“It was an even team with us, so we were pretty confident coming into this that we would at least have a good game,” Mattila said.
After a quick 7-3 start for the Leathernecks in the second set, the Tommies brought the score within three points toward the end. The Tommies trailed 23-20 before Western Illinois requested a video replay that reversed a St. Thomas point, which ended up being detrimental to the Tommies’ small scoring run that they held.
Although the Tommies lost each set, there were 15 tie scores and six lead changes in the match.
Besides Mattila’s 12 kills, first year outside hitter Lauren Galvin also had 12 kills on the night for St. Thomas. The Tommies were missing two upperclassmen players, junior middle blocker Selena Levendoski and senior setter Grace Anetipa, which Mattila thinks may have affected them.
“Even if we are missing a player, we need to be able to still function without them,” Mattila said.
Levendoski contributed 22 kills and three digs in Thursday’s win over North Dakota.
“Selena is a strong middle presence for us,” Pham said. “We do believe in everyone on our team and if she’s not here, it’s an opportunity for someone else to step up.”
The Tommies’ lineup included six first-year and two sophomore players in the match, as compared to only three upperclassmen who entered the game.
Going into the Tommies’ next match, sophomore Ellie Dammann is excited for the challenge that the University of South Dakota brings.
“Obviously they’re a great team … seeing that high level (of play) I hope is going to push us to perform at a higher level as well,” Dammann said.
The Tommies take on the University of South Dakota at 7 p.m. Thursday in a road match at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
“We’re going to take a little bit of a break, kind of reset our minds, and we’re going to get into this game and we’re going to go hard,” Mattila said. “We’re planning on winning.”
Cam Kauffman can be reached at kauf8536@stthomas.edu.