SAN ANTONIO – The outside attack for St. Mary's was solid on night two of the season as the Rattlers swept the visiting Texas A&M International Dust Devils, 25-21, 25-23, 25-18 to improve to 2-0.
Freshman
Julia Aleman (San Antonio) had 16 kills and hit an astounding .500 (16-2-28) to pace the Rattlers (2-0, 2-0 Lone Star Conference), while junior
Alissa Tolbert (San Antonio) recorded her second-straight double-double with 10 kills and a match-high 12 digs. Tolbert was also one of three on the team with two aces -- setters
Aislan Lennon (Houston) and
Lindsey Kaufman (Coral Springs, Fla.) were the other two.
The squad recorded more aces than errors on the night with eight aces and six errors. They also hit .259 for the match, recording just three errors each in the final two stanzas.
Kaufman narrowly missed a double-double, notching 15 assists and nine digs, while Lennon totaled 22 assists. Senior
Catherine Cruz (San Antonio) also made it to double digits in digs with 10.
For the first time since 2009, the St. Mary's Volleyball team has started 2-0 in conference play. That season, the Rattlers were members of the Heartland Conference and finished 6-8 in league action.
Texas A&M International was led by Mackenzie Catalina with 16 kills, Deserey Gomez with 11 digs, Carly Unruh with three aces and McKenna Flagler with 29 assists.
St. Mary's remains at home to host Texas A&M-Kingsville on Tuesday, Feb. 2 and Wednesday, Feb. 3 at 6 p.m. The Javelinas are also 2-0 on the young season after winning a pair of matches at St. Edward's.
INDIVIDUAL PLAYER & TEAM NOTES
- Junior Alissa Tolbert recorded her second-straight double-double of the season and the 20th of her career with 10 kills and a match-high 12 digs.
- For the first time since 2009, the Rattlers are 2-0 in conference play. They are one of five unbeaten teams left in the Lone Star, joining Angelo State, Midwestern State and Texas A&M-Kingsville and Texas-Tyler. Four teams have yet to play in the 16-team league.
- Freshman Julia Aleman has recorded double figure kills in both matches this season with 11 on Tuesday and 16 on Wednesday.
- Senior Catherine Cruz has recorded double digit digs in nine consecutive matches and has nine or more in 18 straight.
- The Rattlers are now 20-10 all-time against the Dust Devils and have won nine of the last 10 between the two teams.
