Box Score
SAN ANTONIO —The Rattlers charted their first home victory on the season at Bill Greehey Arena Saturday, taking down St. Edward's in a heated four-set match, 25-16, 25-23, 21-25 and 25-22.
The win also marked the first time in 10 matches that the Rattlers have claimed a victory over the Hilltoppers, dating back to the 2007 season.
Melissa Heft (Jr., San Antonio) consistently spurred cheers from the crowd, totaling a team-high 16 kills and 35 total attacks.
Lauren Holman (So., Rowlett, Texas) tallied 13 kills, one block solo and a team-high two block assists. Holman recorded an impressive .462 hitting percentage off 26 total attacks to give St. Mary's an early edge of St. Edward's in the annual "Battle of the Saints" series.
"The game plan is to go out there and do your job," said Holman, who set the program's record for total blocks and block solos for a three-set match on Thursday. "My job is to block and get kills on my team. All I'm doing out there is my job not only for my teammates but for my coach and myself as well."
Victorria Martinez (Jr., Arlington, Texas) clearly did her libero job well in the Rattlers' victory, totaling 33 digs for the match to tie her own record for the No. 2 spot for the four-set match digs record.
St. Mary's jumped off quick, leading the Hilltoppers 13-4 early in the first set to nearly win it by 10. The Rattlers again showed their desire to trump the Hilltoppers (3-7, 1-1 in conference) for the first time since 2007, holding them in the second set, 25-23.
The Hilltoppers were able to rally in the third set for the win but soon heard the "one more point" chant from Rattler fans as St. Mary's claimed the Battle of the Saints, 3-1.
The Rattlers improved to 4-6 on the season and 2-1 in Heartland Conference play after Saturday's exciting win, which Holman chalks up to the Rattlers' chemistry that includes three consistent, main newbies.
"I think the new players are great, "said Holman of
Rachael Scicchitano,
Lauren Slaughter and
Tori Estrada. "I feel that they are a great addition to the team and I feel like they are working well and meshing well with the team.
"It's making it fun when we win a game like this. We come out and beat St. Edward's, a rivalry, and it's just really exciting to play with everyone."
Scicchitano (Fr., McKinney, Texas) recorded 21 assists in her first look at the Hilltoppers under
Mikayla Bass (So., Coppell, Texas) who led with 26 assists. Bass also recorded 18 digs followed by
Kelsey Huber (Jr., San Antonio) with 14. Huber also recorded nine kills.
The Rattlers will hit the road to play Tarleton State at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Stephennville, Texas.
St. Mary's University, as a Catholic Marianist University, fosters the formation of people in faith and educates leaders for the common good through community service, integrated liberal arts and professional education, and academic excellence. The University has six athletic national titles: men's basketball (1989–NAIA), baseball (2001–NCAA Div. II), softball (1986–NAIA and 2002–NCAA Div. II) and an individual national champion in men's golf (2006–NCAA Div. II) and a national academic championship in men's golf (2009–NCAA Div. II). St. Mary's also had more than 40 percent of its athletes named to conference, regional and/or national honor rolls this past year. St. Mary's student–athletes graduation rate is 65 percent, higher than the NCAA Division II average of 55 percent. To learn more about St. Mary's, visit www.rattlerathletics.com.
