From SGU Sports Info.
Brad Collins, Sports Information Director
SHAWNEE — St. Gregory’s senior libero Daniella Rivera had a game-high 22 digs, but the Cavaliers fell to St. Thomas-Houston in straight sets (25-14, 25-19, 25-15) Thursday night at W.P. Wood Field House in both teams’ season opener.
Kylah Dias poured in a team-high eight kills and a .500 hitting percentage to lead the visitors’ attack. UST hit .202 as a team compared to St. Gregory’s .075. The Celts’ DaVette McCall dug a game-high 25 times.
Tiphani Funk, an All-Sooner Athletic Conference honorable mention selection last year, had a game-high nine kills to lead St. Gregory’s. Maggie Lasater was the Cavs’ assist leader with nine.
The Celts were a blistering .346 after a first set in which they never trailed. Up 12-10 midway through, UST went on a 7-1 run to put it away. The Cavs got up 9-5 early in the second set after consecutive kills by Funk. But the visitors responded with a big run again – this time 12-3 – to turn the momentum.
Another mid-set run in the third completed the sweep. Up 11-10, UST scored eight consecutive points to make it 19-10. St. Gregory’s got no closer than seven the rest of the way.
St. Gregory’s (0-1) makes the return trip to Houston August 29-30 to play in the UST Labor Day Tournament. The Cavs return home September 2 to take on Bacone.