Thomas More volleyball sweeps past visiting Georgetown (Ky.), remains unbeaten at 6-0

By Don Owen
NKyTribune reporter

Despite the fact they are separated by just 77 miles on I-75, the volleyball programs at Thomas More University and Georgetown (Ky.) College have met just twice in recorded history.

Not exactly a rivalry, despite the close proximity. Both programs have been extremely successful during the past 25 years, but Thomas More competed at the NCAA Division III level, and Georgetown played in the NAIA. In terms of qualifying for their respective national tournaments, neither school had anything to gain by scheduling the other.

All that has changed. Thomas More joined the NAIA this season and is also a member of the Mid-South Conference, which includes Georgetown. From this point forward, the Saints and Tigers will meet twice each season. After years of never playing, an I-75 rivalry is now being established between the two programs.

That’s especially true after what happened Tuesday night in Crestview Hills, when Thomas More swept visiting Georgetown at the Connor Convocation Center. The Saints hit .297 and posted a 25-21, 25-14, 25-22 victory against the Tigers in Mid-South Conference action.

Emily Mohs finished with 15 kills and attacked at a .412 clip for Thomas More, which improved to 6-0 overall, 2-0 in the Mid-South Conference. Thomas More setters Maddie Read and Lizzie Schoenfeld combined for 25 assists, five aces and 12 digs.

“We played really clean volleyball tonight, which is kind of new for us,” said Thomas More co-interim head coach Katie Sullivan, who is sharing the duties with Elly Ogle this season. “We struggled last week with Shawnee State and made a lot of unforced errors. We worked in practice on serving aggressively, which I think kept (Georgetown) out of system.

“It helped us stay in system and able to get those big swings.”

Mohs made Georgetown pay with her big swings the entire match, but the sophomore tallied a pair of clutch kills late in the third set after Georgetown had cut the Thomas More lead to 22-21. With the Saints holding a 24-22 advantage, Mohs combined with Rana Cousin to block Hunter Keller’s attack for match point.

Mohs entered Tuesday night ranked sixth nationally in both hitting percentage (.366) and kills per set (4.56). A graduate of Seton High School in Cincinnati, Mohs earned first-team All-America honors last season while Thomas More competed at the NCAA Division III level.

“I can’t thank my teammates enough, because it’s not just me,” Mohs said. “I need a good pass and a good set. They’re doing a great job, and that’s why we’re successful.”

After watching Mohs convert 15 kills in 34 attempts with just one error, Sullivan was impressed. “Emily was a dominant force, and they really struggled stopping and defending her when they could have put a block up.

“I thought both of our middles and right-sides played really well, putting the ball away. And our setters made great choices with who they were setting.”

Read dished out 15 assists, served up a pair of aces and added eight digs. Schoenfeld finished with 10 assists, three aces and four digs. Madison Krumpelman led the defense with 13 digs and added seven kills, while Cousin hit .714 by converting five kills in seven attempts without an error.

Thomas More, which had to replace American Collegiate Athletic Association Setter of the Year Jenna Fessler this season, has found early success with Read and Schoenfeld sharing the bulk of those duties. Senior right-side hitter/setter Alli Borders has also distributed the ball and averages 2.78 assists per frame.

“It was tricky at first because I was so used to Jenna’s sets,” Mohs said of Fessler. “I think I’m adjusting well, and it will just continue getting better as the season goes on. Their setting styles are different, but you have to swing high and stay under control. Our setters are doing a great job.”

Sarah Snyder collected eight kills for Georgetown (3-7 overall, 0-1 Mid-South), which hit just .055. Former Scott High School standout Jessica Tapp, who earned Region 10 Player of the Year honors twice, added three kills and two digs for Georgetown. Tapp also collected her 700th career kill on Tuesday.

Thomas More hits the road this weekend to play in the Aquinas/Cornerstone Invitational at Grand Rapids, Mich. The Saints meet nationally ranked Aquinas at 4 p.m. Friday in the opening match. Aquinas was rated No. 16 in the NAIA preseason poll. Thomas More also plays Indiana Wesleyan at 6 p.m. on Friday.

Thomas More concludes the two-day event Saturday by facing 24th-ranked Marian (Ind.) at 11 a.m. and Cornerstone at 1 p.m.

The Saints’ next home match is set for Sept. 11, when Mid-South Conference rival Pikeville visits the Connor Convocation Center at 7 p.m.

Contact Don Owen at don@nkytrib.com and follow him on Twitter at @dontribunesport