Presidents' Athletic Conference Regular Season Champs: 2007
Presidents' Athletic Conference Tournament Champs: 2006

6/25/08

Spinney named Head Coach

Thomas More Athletic Director Terry Connor announced the school has hired John Spinney as the school’s new head volleyball coach.

    Back for his second tour of duty, Spinney is looking to continue Thomas More’s rich volleyball tradition. To accomplish this task, there is no one better suited than Spinney.  He replaced his predecessor, Jenny Fette, who has taken the head volleyball job at Colerain High School.

    “I am excited to be back and intend to take the program into the top 25 and beyond,” said Spinney.

    In his three seasons at Thomas More, Spinney compiled a 59-53 record, including back-to-back 20-win campaigns. It was the last time the feat has been achieved at Thomas More, and the first time since the Saints recorded five straight from 1990-95. He led the Saints to their last NCAA Tournament appearance in 2003, the team’s school-leading eighth NCAA Tournament appearance.

    "We are delighted to have Spinney return and lead our volleyball program," said Terry Connor, Thomas More Athletic Director. "We are very confident that he will help maintain our position amongst the region's best, academically and athletically."

1/4/08

Fette inducted in Hall

CINCINNATI, OH - Thomas More volleyball coach Jenny Fette has been selected for induction in the Mercy High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

     Mercy will have a recognition ceremony Saturday at the basketball game, which will be followed reception at the West Side school.

    "Obviously its a great honor to be inducted into a Hall of Fame," said Fette. "It's a better honor with the athletic tradition at Mercy. I am thankful of the opportunities afforded to me at Mercy, academically and athletically."

     Fette played three sports at Mercy, earning GGCL honors in volleyball and softball. She was a two-time GGCL volleyball selection, and was a first-team Cincinnati Enquirer selection as a senior. Fette was a GGCL scholar athlete nominee and was the high school Sportswoman of the Year runner up.

     Following her prep career, she continued her volleyball career at the University of Toledo, where she earned Scholar Athlete honors in 1995 and 1997.

     In her four seasons at Thomas More, the Saints  have compiled a 77-64 record and won the 2006 Presidents' Athletic Conference title.

11/3/07

Saints fall in Finals

NEW WILMINGTON, PA - There will be no repeat for the Thomas More volleyball team as they fell in the conference finals to Westminster Saturday, 30-17, 30-24, 30-26.

     Senior Valeri Kuhn (Cincinnati, OH/Oak Hills) finished the game with 31 assists to end her illustrious career with 5,385 assists, which puts her in the top 25 all-time in assists.

     Freshman Lindsay Svec (Cincinnati, OH/Seton) led Thomas More with 15 kills, while sophomore Kristine Rust (Independence/Simon Kenton) led the Saints with 16 digs. Kuhn and senior Jenny Schutte (Harrison, OH/Harrison) added 13 digs for Thomas More.

     Thomas More ends the season at 24-10.

11/2/07

TMC heads to Finals

NEW WILMINGTON, PA - For the second straight season, Thomas More will be in the finals of the Presidents' Athletic Conference tournament. The Saints advanced to the championship game with a 30-26, 30-27, 26-30, 30-17 victory over Grove City Friday.

     Senior Valeri Kuhn (Cincinnati, OH/Oak Hills) moved in the NCAA Top 25 wth 53 assists, giving her 5,354 career assists. She added 20 digs and three service aces in the victory. Senior Jenny Schutte (Harrison, OH/Harrison) recorded a team-high 21 digs and three service aces.

     Sophomore Kristine Rust (Independence/Simon Kenton) led the Saints with 16 kills, three block solos and three block assists. Freshmen Libby Mulrey (Cincinnati, OH/Turpin) and Lindsay Svec (Cincinnati, OH/Seton) each recorded 15 kills, while sophomore Leslie Hoelscher (Ft. Loramie, OH/Ft. Loramie) chiupped in with 14.

     Thomas More (24-10) will face top-seeded Westminster 4 p.m. Saturday for the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The two teams dealt each other their only PAC loss - posting home victories. The Titans received the top-seed virtue their four-set win versus Thomas More's five-set victory.

10/28/07

Saints Earn Share of PAC Title

GREENVILLE, PA - Thomas More earned a share of the Presidents' Athletic Conference regular season championship with a 30-23, 30-21, 30-22 victory over Thiel. Because of the tiebreaker, the Saints will be the second seed of the tournament, and Westminster will be the top seed and host.

     Sophomore Kristine Rust (Independence/Simon Kenton) led the Saints with 14 kills, while freshman Lindsay Svec (Cincinnati, OH/Seton) added 11 and sophomore Leslie Hoelscher (Ft. Loramie, OH/Ft. Loramie) recorded 10. Senior Valeri Kuhn (Cincinnati, OH/Oak Hills) led the team with 36 assists and was second on the team with 16 digs. Rust led the way with 17 digs.

     Hoelscher recorded two block assists and a block solo.

     Thomas More (23-10, 13-1 PAC) will travel to New Wilmington, PA for the semifinals of the PAC tournament on Friday.

10/25/07

TMC honors Seniors

After honoring its three seniors, Thomas More promptly went out and defeated Bethany in three sets, 30-18, 30-22, 30-22, Thursday in Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) action at the Connor Convocation Center.

     It was the final home game for Valeri Kuhn (Cincinnati, OH/Oak Hills), Michelle Headley (Cincinnati, OH/Northwest) and Jenny Schutte (Harrison, OH/Harrison). It is the first class that head coach Jenny Fette had for all four seasons. Thomas More (22-10, 12-1 PAC) will wrap up the regular season Saturday with a road game at Thiel. A win and Westminster loss will give the Saints the top seed for next weekend's PAC tournament.

     Kuhn helped the Saints to an average of 18 kills per games, dishing out 42 assists in the three-set victory. Sophomore Leslie Hoelscher (Ft. Loramie, OH/Ft. Loramie) led the way with 16 kills, while freshman Libby Mulrey (Cincinnati, OH/Turpin) added 10 in the win.

     Schutte finished the game with a team-high 18 digs, while junior Sara Corry (Bedford/Trimble County) recorded three block assists.

10/23/07

Saints Clinch Bye

Thomas More secured a first-round bye for the Presidents' Athletic Conference tournament, and stayed alive for hosting privileges of the postseason tournament with a 30-27, 30-20, 30-17 win over Grove City Tuesday at the Connor Convocation Center.

     The Saints (21-10 overall, 11-1 PAC) will host Bethany Thursday for Senior Day before traveling to Thiel Saturday to round out the regular season. Two TMC wins and a Westminster loss will give Thomas More the top seed in the PAC tournament. The Titans hold the tiebreaker due to their four-set win over TMC versus the Saints' five-set win over them.

     Sophomore Leslie Hoelscher (Ft. Loramie, OH/Ft. Loramie) and freshman Lindsay Svec (Cincinnati, OH/Seton) each had 14 kills to lead the Saints. Senior Jenny Schutte (Harrison, OH/Harrison) and sophomore Kristine Rust (Independence/Simon Kenton) recorded 16 digs apiece.

     Senior Valeri Kuhn (Cincinnati, OH/Oak Hills) distributed a team-high 46 assists in the victory.

10/21/07

One Step Closer

WASHINGTON, PA - Thomas More moved one step closer to securing a first-round bye in the Presidents' Athletic Conference tournament, and remained in contention for the top-seed with a 30-24, 31-29, 30-18, win over Washington & Jefferson.

     Sophomore Leslie Hoelscher (Ft. Loramie, OH/Ft. Loramie) led the Saints with 11 kills as freshman duo Libby Mulrey (Cincinnati, OH/Turpin) and Lindsay Svec (Cincinnti, OH/Seton) each added 10 kills. Senior Valeri Kuhn (Cincinnati, OH/Oak Hills) finished with 38 assists and two service aces. Classmate Jenny Schutte (Harrison, OH/Harrison) also had two aces.

     Sophomore Kristine Rust (Independence/Simon Kenton) recorded four block assists and a block solo in the victory. Schutte and senior Michelle Headley (Cincinnati, OH/Northwest) each had 13 digs.

      Thomas More returns to the court Tuesday with a home date with Grove City.

10/20/07

20/20 vision

LATROBE, PA - Sophomore Kristine Rust (Independence/Simon Kenton) had the Saints seeing clearly as she posted the first 20/20 match of the season leading Thomas More to the five-set, 30-20, 30-28, 27-30, 20-30, 15-8, victory over Saint Vincent Saturday.

     Rust recorded team-highs with 23 kills and 21 digs in the non-conference win over the Bearcats. Senior Valeri Kuhn (Cincinnati, OH/Oak Hills) recorded her second 60-plus assist match of the season with 62 assists.

     Freshman Lindsay Svec (Cincinnati, OH/Seton) added 21 kills and freshman Libby Mulrey (Cincinnati, OH/Turpin) chipped in with 16 for the Saints. Freshman Tiffany Powell (Alexandria/Dayton) recorded 13 digs and senior Jenny Schutte (Harrison, OH/Harrison) added 12 digs and four service aces.

     Sophomore Leslie Hoelscher (Ft. Loramie, OH/Ft. Loramie) finished the match with three block assists and two block solos.

     Thomas More has a critical PAC game Sunday to cap off three conference matches in three days when the Saints travel to Washington & Jefferson.

10/19/07

TMC beats Waynesburg

WAYNESBURG, PA - Thomas More stepped back into Presidents' Athletic Conference action and posting a three-set victory over Waynesburg, 30-25, 30-18, 30-22, Friday.

     Freshman Lindsay Svec (Cincinnati, OH/Seton) led the Saints with 18 kills, while the trio of freshman Libby Mulrey (Cincinnati, OH/Turpin) and sophomores Kristine Rust (Independence/Simon Kenton) and Leslie Hoelscher (Ft. Loramie, OH/Ft. Loramie) all added 13 kills. Senior Valeri Kuhn (Cincinnati, OH/Oak Hills) dished out 47 assists.

     Senior Jenny Schutte (Harrison, OH/Harrison) finished with 16 digs and three service aces.

     Thomas More will play Saint Vincent Saturday in non-conference action.

10/14/07

Saints comeback to beat Hanover

Facing a do or die moment, trailing 14-11 in the last game, Thomas More responded to knock off Hanover Sunday, 31-29, 28-30, 30-20, 24-30, 20-18.

     Senior Valeri Kuhn (Cincinnati, OH/Oak Hills) capped the comeback with a service ace as the Saints staved off seven match points to post the victory. It was Thomas More's fifth ace of the match, and the second by Kuhn.

     Freshmen Libby Mulrey (Cincinnati, OH/Turpin) and Lindsay Svec (Cincinnati, OH/Seton) each recorded team-highs with 17 kills each, while sophomores Kristine Rust (Independence/Simon Kenton) and Leslie Hoelscher (Ft. Loramie, OH/Ft. Loramie) each tallied 14. Kuhn distributed a team-high 56 assists, while senior Jenny Schutte (Harrison, OH/Harrison) recorded 26 digs. Rust chipped in with 17, and freshman Tiffany Powell (Alexandria/Dayton) added 14.

     Thomas More (17-9) will travel for three straight PAC matches in three days starting Friday at Waynesburg.

TMC opens Day Two with Loss

Thomas More opened the second day of its own invitational with a 30-27, 24-30, 32-34, 21-30 loss to Monmouth Sunday at the Connor Convocation Center.

     Freshman Libby Mulrey (Cincinnati, OH/Turpin) led the Saints with 15 kills, while freshman Lindsay Svec (Cincinnati, OH/Seton) added 12 for TMC. Senior Valeri Kuhn (Cincinnati, OH/Oak Hills) recorded 42 assists in the defeat.

     Senior Jenny Schutte (Harrison, OH/Harrison) had a team-high 28 digs as sophomore Kristine Rust (Independence/Simon Kenton) recorded 16 digs. Sophomore Leslie Hoelscher (Ft. Loramie, OH/Ft. Loramie) led with four block assists and a block solo.

10/13/07

Saints fall to MUC

After winning the first game, the Thomas More Saints lost three straight to fall to Mount Union Saturday, 28-30, 30-22, 34-32, 34-32.

     Freshman Libby Mulrey (Cincinnati, OH/Turpin) led the Saints with 18 kills, while sophomore Leslie Hoelscher (Ft. Loramie, OH/Ft. Loramie) chipped in with 17. Senior Valeri Kuhn (Cincinnati, OH/Oak Hills) distributed 52 assists in the loss.

     Senior Jenny Schutte (Harrison, OH/Harrison) had 33 digs for Thomas More, and sophomore Kristine Rust (Independence/Simon Kenton) added 15. Junior Sara Corry (Bedford/Trimble County) led with six block assists.

     Thomas More will return to action Sunday in the Thomas More Invitational.

TMC knocks off Bluffton

A trio of Thomas More hitters helped the Saints open their own invitational with a 31-29, 24-30, 30-27, 30-24 victory over Bluffton Saturday at the Connor Convocation Center.

     Sophomore Leslie Hoelscher (Ft. Loramie, OH/Ft. Loramie) along with freshmen Libby Mulrey (Cincinnati, OH/Turpin) and Lindsay Svec (Cincinnati, OH/Seton) led the Saints with 13 kills each in the victory.

     Senior Valeri Kuhn (Cincinnati, OH/Oak Hills) eclipsed the 5,000-assist barrier as she finished the game with 40 assists to lead Thomas More. Sophomore Kristine Rust (Independence/Simon Kenton) led TMC with eight block assists, while Hoelscher added five block assists and a block solo. Seniors Jenny Schutte (Harrison, OH/Harrison) and Michelle Headley (Cincinnati, OH/Northwest) recorded 22 and 18 digs, respectively.

     Thomas More will host Mount Union at 6 p.m..

10/10/07

Hard fought defeat

Mount St. Joseph scored nine of the last 14 points to defeat Thomas More Wednesday in non-conference action, 30-32, 30-25, 30-26, 15-30, 15-10, at the Connor Convocation Center.

     Thomas More had responded from being down two games to one by posting a resounding 30-15 win in game four. However, two service errors and a hitting error after the fifth game was tied at six undid the Saints.

     Freshman Lindsay Svec (Cincinnati, OH/Seton) led Thomas More with 23 kills, while freshman Libby Mulrey (Cincinnati, OH/Turpin) and sophomore Leslie Hoelscher (Ft. Loramie, OH/Ft. Loramie) added 15 and 14 kills, respectively.

     Senior Valeri Kuhn (Cincinnati, OH/Oak Hills) distributed 56 assists in the defeat. She added three services aces as senior Jenny Schutte (Harrison, OH/Harrison) had a team-high five. Schutte also had a team-high 18 digs, and Kuhn chipped in with 14. Hoelscher recorded three block assists and a block solo.

     Thomas More (15-8) will host the Thomas More Invitational this weekend.

10/6/07

TMC wins PAC match, drop two others

BETHANY, WV - In the one match that counted towards Presidents' Athletic Conference standings, Thomas More came out victorious, beating Bethany, 30-22, 30-19, 30-18. But, the Saints fell to PAC members, Saint Vincent and Geneva, in non-conference contests Saturday.

     Senior Jenny Schutte (Harrison, OH/Harrison), who moved from libero to setter for Saturday's matches, finished the Bethany contest with 34 assists to lead the Saints. Freshman Lindsay Svec (Cincinnati, OH/Seton) and sophomore Kristine Rust (Independence/Simon Kenton) led with 12 kills each, while freshman Karley Riffe (Ft. Thomas/Highlands) recorded a team-high 16 digs.

     Senior Michelle Headley (Cincinnati, OH/Northwest) had four aces, and sophomore Leslie Hoelscher (Ft. Loramie, OH/Ft. Loramie) recorded three blocks.

     In the 22-30, 30-21, 30-26, 30-24 loss to Saint Vincent, Schutte had a team-high 44 aces, while freshman Libby Mulrey (Cincinnati, OH/Turpin) and Rust recorded 14 kills each. Svec and Hoelscher chipped in with 12 kills apiece. Riffe added 27 digs for Thomas More.

     Schutte distributed 30 assists in TMC's 30-18, 30-22, 30-25, loss to Geneva. Hoelscher has a team-high 12 kills and two blocks. Riffe had a team-high 14 digs.

     Thomas More (15-7 overall, 8-1 PAC) will host Mount St. Joseph in non-conference action Wednesday.

09/29/07

Sole Possession

For the second straight weekend, Thomas More faced a team unbeaten in conference. For the second straight weekend, the Saints were the last team standing.

     Thomas More claimed sole possession of first place Saturday in the Presidents' Athletic Conference, defeating previously-unbeaten Westminster, 33-35, 30-20, 30-22, 25-30, 15-8. The Saints also knocked off Waynesburg in PAC action Saturday, beating the Yellow Jackets, 30-19, 30-25, 30-24.

     With the victories, Thomas More improves to 14-4 overall, 7-0 in the PAC, and has won 11 straight matches.

     Sophomores Leslie Hoelscher (Ft. Loramie, OH/Ft. Loramie) and Kristine Rust (Independence/Simon Kenton) led the Saints with 19 kills each, while freshman Lindsay Svec (Cincinnati, OH/Seton) added 18 kills in the Westminster victory. Freshman Libby Mulrey (Cincinnati, OH/Turpin) chipped in with 15 kills.

     Senior Valeri Kuhn (Cincinnati, OH/Oak Hills) recorded 64 assists, five off her career-high of 69. Hoelscher added four blocks assists and two solo blocks, while junior Sara Corry (Bedford/Trimble County) added four block solos. Senior Jenny Schutte (Harrison, OH/Harrison) recorded a team-high 23 digs, while Rust added 20 for TMC.

     In the win over Waynesburg, Hoelscher led the way with 18 kills, while Svec had 15. Kuhn distributed 43 assists and recorded a team-high 13 digs for Thomas More. Senior Michelle Headley (Cincinnati, OH/Northwest) added 11 digs for TMC.

     Thomas More travels to New Wilmington, PA Friday for a PAC rematch with Westminster.

09/25/07

Saints win in three

Thomas More temporarily stepped away from Presidents' Athletic Conference action Tuesday, and defeated Franklin at the Connor Convocation Center, 30-15, 30-28, 30-25.

     The match was sandwiched between three PAC matches last weekend and two this weekend. Both weekend's featured the Saints facing unbeaten conference foes. Thomas More (12-4 overall, 5-0 PAC) knocked Grove City from the ranks of the unbeaten ranks last Saturday, and will face unbeaten Westminster 11 a.m. Saturday.

     With the win, the Saints have now won nine straight matches. During the streak, they have only dropped two games.

     Sophomore Leslie Hoelscher (Ft. Loramie, OH/Ft. Loramie) led TMC with 14 kills, while sophomore Kristine Rust (Independence/Simon Kenton) added nine. Senior Valeri Kuhn (Cincinnati, OH/Oak Hills) distributed 33 assists in the three-match victory.

      Senior Jenny Schutte (Harrison, OH/Harrison) recorded a team-high 18 digs. Junior Sara Corry (Bedford/Trimble County) had a team-high four block assists. Rust, Schutte and freshman Karley Riffe (Ft. Thomas/Highlands) all had two service aces.

09/22/07

Thomas more lay first place Claim

GROVE CITY, PA - Thomas More knocked off one of the three remaining unbeaten teams in the Presidents' Athletic Conference, beating Grove City Saturday, 30-20, 30-24, 30-17. The Saints also defeated Thiel in PAC action Saturday, 30-15, 27-30, 30-22, 30-16.

     In the win over the Wolverines, freshman Lindsey Svec (Cincinnati, OH/Seton) had 18 kills, while sophomore Leslie Hoelscher (Ft. Loramie, OH/Ft. Loramie) added 15. Hoelscher added two block assists and two block solos in the victory. Senior Valeri Kuhn (Cincinnati, OH/Oak Hills) had 48 assists to lead Thomas More.

     Senior Jenny Schutte (Harrison, OH/Harrison) recorded 22 digs, while sophomore Kristine Rust (Independence/Simon Kenton) and Kuhn chipped in with 14 and 12, respectively.

     Freshman Libby Mulrey (Cincinnati, OH/Turpin) and Svec led the Saints with 15 kills in the four-set victory over Thiel. Kuhn recorded 43 assists, 23 digs and two service aces in the win.

     Thomas More (11-4 overall, 5-0 PAC) host Franklin Tuesday in non-conference action.

09/21/07

Saints breeze past Chatham

PITTSBURGH, PA - For the second time in as many matches, the Thomas More Saints made easy work of Chatham, beating the Cougars, 30-16, 30-18, 30-27 in Presidents' Athletic Conference action Friday.

     The win sets up a key early season match-up with Grove City 2 p.m. Saturday. The Wolverines, like Thomas More, are unbeaten in PAC action - and sports a 11-1 record. Before the GCC match, TMC will play Thiel in PAC action at noon.

     Freshman Libby Mulrey (Cincinnati, OH/Turpin) was the lone Saint player with double figure kills as she recorded 10 on the day. Senior Valeri Kuhn (Cincinnati, OH/Oak Hills) had 31 assists, while sophomore Kristine Rust (Independence/Simon Kenton) had four aces.

     Freshman Tiffany Powell (Dayton/Dayton) had a career-high 10 digs for Thomas More, and junior Sara Corry (Bedford/Trimble County) added two block assist and a block solo.

9/16/07

TMC aces Cougars

Thomas More recorded 18 services aces, including nine from senior Jenny Schutte (Harrison, OH/Harrison), as the Saints swept past Chatham, 30-18, 30-12, 30-17.

     Freshman Lindsay Svec (Cincinnati, OH/Seton) was the lone Saints player with double digit kills with 11, while sophomore Kristine Rust (Independence/Simon Kenton) added eight kills and 10 digs.

     Schutte recorded a team-high 13 digs to go with her nine service aces. Senior Valeri Kuhn (Cincinnati, OH/Oak Hills) added 33 assists and five aces.

     Thomas More (8-4 overall, 2-0 PAC) will return to action Friday with a road PAC game at Chatham.

09/15/07

Thomas More takes two

Sophomore Kristine Rust (Independence/Simon Kenton) had 36 kills in two matches as Thomas More won both home matches Saturday. TMC defeated Washington & Jefferson, 31-33, 30-24, 30-27, 30-26, then knocked off Geneva, 30-26, 30-21, 30-26.

     The win over W&J represented the first time the Saints won the match after losing the first game all season, and the first Presidents' Athletic Conference win for Thomas More.

     Rust led TMC with 23 kills and a 14 digs, while sophomore Leslie Hoelscher (Ft. Loramie, OH/Ft. Loramie) added 16 kills. Senior Valeri Kuhn (Cincinnati, OH/Oak Hills) distributed 50 assists. Senior Jenny Schutte (Harrison, OH/Harrison) recorded 14 digs, while senior Michelle Headley (Cincinnati, OH/Northwest) added 11 digs with five service aces

     In the straight set win over the Golden Tornadoes, Rust led with 13 kills and freshman Libby Mulrey (Cincinnati, OH/Turpin) added 11. Kuhn spread 28 assists around as Schutte had 25 digs and Rust finished with 18.

     Thomas More (7-4 overall, 1-0 PAC) will return to the court noon Sunday for a PAC match with Chatham.

09/12/07

TMC blanks Pioneers

LEXINGTON - Thomas More has now won 18 straight sets against Transylvania following the Saints' 30-27, 30-28, 30-24 win over the host-Pioneers Wednesday. The win marked the sixth consecutive straight set victory over Transy.

     Senior Valeri Kuhn (Cincinnati, OH/Oak Hills) distributed 31 assists in the victory. It is the fifth time this season, and 57th time in her career, that she had 30-plus assists in a match

     Senior Jenny Schutte (Harrison, OH/Harrison) recorded 25 digs, while Lindsay Svec (Cincinnati, OH/Seton) added 15. Freshman Karley Riffe (Ft. Thomas/Highlands) and Kuhn each had 11 digs.

     Sophomore Leslie Hoelscher (Ft. Loramie, OH/Ft. Loramie) led the team with 13 kills, as freshman Libby Mulrey (Cincinnati, OH/Turpin) chipped in with 10 kills. Sophomore Sara Corry (Bedford/Trimble County) recorded a team-high five block assists and one block solo.

     Thomas More improves to 5-4 on the season, and will host a Presidents' Athletic Conference tri-match Saturday.

09/09/07

Saints wrap up California Trip

CLAREMONT, CA - It was a rough weekend in California for the Thomas More Saints as they lost three of four matches on the west coast, and come back home at 4-4. The Saints lost to two nationally ranked teams, and another team that will soon be ranked.

     In the opener, TMC fell to No. 6 LaVerne, 25-30, 27-30, 17-30 on Friday. Senior Jenny Schutte (Harrison, OH/Harrison) had 14 digs with four aces, while senior Valeri Kuhn (Cincinnati, OH/Oak Hills) distributed 25 assists. Freshman Libby Mulrey (Cincinnati, OH/Turpin) led the Saints with nine kills.

     Next on the agenda was unbeaten CSU-East Bay, and the Saints fell 15-30, 16-30, 24-30. The Pioneers have beaten five nationally ranked teams en route to a 10-0 start.

     Schutte led the Saints with 17 digs and two aces, while Kuhn had 15 digs and 24 assists. Sophomore Kristine Rust (Independence/Simon Kenton) added 11 digs, eight kills, three block assists and two block solos.

     Thomas More opened Saturday's competition with No. 24 Linfield, and fell in five sets, 20-30, 30-20, 30-26, 23-30, 13-15.

     Kuhn recorded 22 digs and 48 assists, while Schutte added 31 digs and freshman Karley Riffe (Ft. Thomas/Highlands) added 21 digs.

     Freshman Lindsay Svec (Cincinnati, OH/Seton) recorded her second career 20-kill game with 20 kills, while Mulrey added 14. Schutte had 17 digs and two aces for the Saints, while Kuhn dished out 48 assists with 15 digs. Rust had 14 digs, 11 kills and six blocks, while freshman Leslie Hoelscher (Ft. Loramie, OH/Ft. Loramie) added a team-high eight blocks. Senior Michelle Headley (Cincinnati, OH/Northwest) finished with four aces.

     In the final match of the weekend, the Saints downed Whittier in three, 30-21, 30-25, 30-20. Rust had 12 digs and 12 kills, while Schutte chipped in with 31 digs. Svec, Mulrey and Hoeslcher all had 11 kills for Thomas More. Kuhn added 44 assists with four block assists.

     Thomas More will return to action 7 p.m. Wednesday with a non-conference road match with Transylvania.

9/1/07

Thomas More stands 3-1 after weekend

SPRINGFIELD, OH - Thomas More wrapped up a successful weekend with a split at the Wittenberg Invitational, beating Eastern (PA) in four sets before falling to No. 2 Wittenberg in three sets.

     Senior Valeri Kuhn (Cincinnati, OH/Oak Hills) distributed 42 assists in Thomas More's 30-16, 26-30, 30-22, 30-18 win over Eastern. Four different Saints recorded double-digit kills, led by sophomore Kristen Rust's 15. Freshman Lindsay Svec (Cincinnati, OH/Seton), sophomore Leslie Hoelscher (Ft. Loramie, OH/Ft. Loramie) and freshman Libby Mulrey (Cincinnati, OH/Turpin) had 13, 12, and 10 kills, respectively. Hoelscher added three block solos and two block assists.

     Senior Jenny Schutte (Harrison, OH/Harrison) recorded 20 digs, while Rust had 16, freshman Karley Riffe (Ft. Thomas/Highlands) had 13 and senior Michelle Headley (Cincinnati, OH/Northwest) had 10. Schutte added five service aces.

     Thomas More fell to the host and second-ranked Tigers, 20-30, 17-30, 18-30.

     Svec led with 10 kills, while Hoelscher added eight. Rust had 10 digs, while Kuhn dished out 25 assists.

     The Saints (3-1) will return to action Friday in the Pomona Pitzer tournament, where they will face two teams ranked in the AVCA Top 25.

8/31/07

Saints open Season with Two

SPRINGFIELD, OH - Thomas More opened its 2007 campaign with two wins in the Wittenberg Invitational, beating Defiance in five sets and Centre in three.

     Sophomore Kristine Rust (Independence/Simon Kenton) turned in a solid performance with 17 digs and 12 kills as TMC defeated the Yellow Jackets, 30-24, 30-18, 25-30, 25-30, 15-10. Senior Jenny Schutte (Harrison, OH/Harrison) added 27 digs for the Saints.

     Freshman Lindsay Svec (Cincinnati, OH/Seton) started her collegiate career with a team-high 27 kills, while sophomore Leslie Hoelscher (Ft. Loramie, OH/Ft. Loramie) added 16 kills. Senior Valeri Kuhn (Cincinnati, OH/Oak Hills) went over the 4,000-assist barrier with 60 assists on the evening.

     In the 30-25, 30-26, 30-13 win over Centre, freshman Libby Mulrey (Cincinnati, OH/Turpin) led the way with 15 kills. Rust and Schutte recorded 17 and 15 digs, respectively.

     Kuhn recorded 35 assists to push her career total to 4,094.

     Its the first time since 2001, the Saints have opened the season with back-to-back wins. Thomas More will play Eastern (PA) at 2 p.m. before tangling with host-Wittenberg, the second-ranked team in the country.

2006 Season