KERRVILLE, Texas — For a second consecutive match, the No. 16-ranked Southwestern volleyball team went down to the wire with an opponent, this time pulling away with a five-set victory over the University of St. Thomas Celts. 

"This match showcased two teams playing elite-level defense, illustrated by 107 digs for St. Thomas and 113 digs for us," Southwestern head volleyball coach Don Flora says. "Having four Southwestern athletes with double-digit digs is impressive." 

Ali Grona anchored the defense with 34 digs, followed by Emma White (20), Claire Romo (15), and Geneva Nedrow (14). 

Southwestern opened the first set with a 12-6 lead, but St. Thomas battled back to produce a thrilling set that went into extra points, with Southwestern closing it out on a 3-0 run with back-to-back kills from Lauren Crabtree and Christina Kuras and a St. Thomas attack error.

The Pirates sailed to a more straightforward victory in the second set, hitting .325 with 15 kills to take it 25-16 and go up 2-0. 

St. Thomas battled back, taking the third set 25-22, followed by an elite defensive performance in holding Southwestern to just four kills to six attack errors in the fourth set for a 25-10 win. 

Southwestern regained its composure between the fourth and fifth sets, doubling St. Thomas in kills 12-6 to win the set 15-13 and take the match. 

"The team huddle before the fifth set says volumes about how our team is in this deal together," Flora says. "This type of match allows our players to see where the team can make things happen. No one teammate has to do it all. Instead, we will pick one another up when it is needed the most."

Emma White led five Pirates in double-digit kills with 15 on a .213 clip. Riley Brantley (.364), Christina Kuras (.171), and Crabtree (.128) each had 12 kills. Andie Valenzuela had 11 kills and two block assists. Setters Claire Romo and Katelyn Whitehead directed the Pirate attack with a combined 54 assists. 

Southwestern improves to 20-2 with the win, including 10-2 in conference play.