The St. Thomas volleyball team (28-5) will advance to the MIAC volleyball playoff finals after a 3-1 victory over Concordia-Moorhead (24-6) Thursday at Schoenecker Arena.

The Tommies finished the night strong with the team’s seven seniors racking up 54 kills and 50 digs. The Tommies topped the Cobbers 25-15, 19-25, 25-12, and 25-14.

“Tonight we played really well together, and when we do that we can beat any team,” senior Katie Bonine said.

St. Thomas controlled most of the game with 64 kills, holding the Cobbers to only 38.

“Ball control was definitely the key to our win tonight,” Coach Thanh Pham said.
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St. Thomas senior Emily Foster was selected as MIAC Player of the Year and is looking to become the first three-time American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American in conference history. The All-MIAC team also includes seniors Jill Osborne, Bonine, Tori Jones and Alesha Nelson.

“This is a group of seven seniors and you don’t find that on any team, much less on a volleyball team with only six positions,” Pham said. “They’ve been a really special group of girls in terms of how they get along and their work ethic, and we’re really looking forward to hosting regionals next weekend and making a push for a national title.”

The Tommies will travel to Northfield Saturday for the championship match against top-seeded St. Olaf.

Ashley Stewart can be reached at stew1177@sttomas.edu.