The St. Thomas women’s volleyball team huddles around coach Thanh Pham during Thursday’s loss to NDSU at Schoenecker Arena. The team lost in four sets in its first Summit League match. (Eli Andersen/The Crest) 
St. Thomas recorded 50 kills as a team including 14 from juniors Tezra Rudzitis and Megan Wetter. (Eli Andersen/The Crest) 
Senior hitter Lauren Galvin is one of the 18 returners on the Tommies’ 19-player roster. (Eli Andersen/The Crest) 
Redshirt first-year middle blocker Addison Schmotzer saw her first collegiate action this season. (Eli Andersen/The Crest) 
Wetter’s 4.5 blocks were slightly more than her one-per-set average going into Thursday’s game. (Eli Andersen/The Crest)
The University of St. Thomas volleyball team dropped its first conference match 3-1 to North Dakota State Thursday at Schoenecker Arena.
St. Thomas lost the first set 25-21, won the second 28-26 and lost the remaining sets 25-18, 25-20.
“I thought it was a very spirited match. You could tell both teams really wanted it. They just executed their game plan a little better than we did ours,” coach Thanh Pham said.
Junior middle blocker Megan Wetter led the team with 14 kills on a .565 hitting percentage and just one error.
“She was special tonight and we know that she can be that player almost every night,” Pham said.
Wetter’s points were often served up by sophomore setter Morgan Kealy, who finished with a match-high 43 assists. Kealy has been dishing all season and became the first Tommie to surpass the 1,000 career assist mark in the Division I era.
“Morgan is putting the balls in beautiful places. It doesn’t feel hard at all, I can just swing,” Wetter said.
Wetter made her presence known on the defensive end as well, recording 4.5 blocks, a slight improvement on her previous average of one block per set.
Kealy and Wetter are just two Tommies who have led the team to an 8-5 record, already the most season wins in the D-I era. Pham said he attributes the success to his players’ work ethic.
“I would say the team is a very strong unit. They do believe in each other and they’re willing to work hard for each other,” Pham said.
The two standouts from Thursday’s match are part of a roster of 19, 18 of whom are returners. Outside hitters senior Lauren Galvin and sophomore Ellie Gustafson have combined with Kealy for 15 double doubles across the first twelve matches. Pham said the experience is part of the team’s hot start.
“It just builds continuity and it helps us go a little bit further, a little bit faster,” Pham said, “We don’t have to spend time getting to know each other, because we already are very familiar with each other.”
Wetter said her own seniority has been helping her individually.
“I’m more confident this year. I feel like I’m an upperclassman and I had to step up,” Wetter said.
Junior libero Ella Voegele kept volleys alive with 15 digs. Heading into Thursday’s match, she led the Summit League individually in digs per set and the team also sat at the top.
The Tommies were picked to finish eighth of nine teams in the Summit League preseason poll. Despite this, they won the second most non-conference matches among league opponents.
“Everyone in the league is good. I think it’s different this year. It seems more like there’s higher expectations and fun, actually, at the same time,” Pham said.
The Tommies will travel to take on the Summit League favorites University of Omaha at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28.
“It’s a quick turnaround. We leave tomorrow for a really good Omaha team. Their record doesn’t indicate how well they actually have been playing. They play a lot of tough competition, but I think we’ll be ready for the challenge,” Pham said.
Adam Mueller can be reached at muel7541@stthomas.edu.