Improbable Comeback Falls Just Short For Volleyball

SAN ANTONIO – The St. Mary's Volleyball Team almost pulled off the incredible comeback in the fifth and final set against West Texas A&M on Friday evening, but couldn't quite get over the hump, falling 24-26, 23-25, 25-18, 25-23, 15-13.
 
The Rattlers (8-6, 2-5 Lone Star) trailed 11-1 in the fifth set, but the tough serving of freshman Cali Nims (Corpus Christi) and a live arm by senior outside hitter Alissa Tolbert (San Antonio) brought the team back to within two, 12-10. The two teams traded points over the final six points.
 
Tolbert recorded the third 20 kill-20 dig performance of her career, blasting a career-best 28 kills and tying for match-high honors with 24 digs. She also had 29 serve receptions without an error.
 
Nims had three aces to lead the match – all coming in the fifth set – and posted her second career double-double with 33 assists and a career-high 12 digs. Fellow setter Aislan Lennon (Houston) also tallied a double-double with 24 assists and 11 digs.
 
Junior libero Gabi Sandoval (San Antonio) also collected 24 digs, while senior middle blocker Julia Deais (San Antonio) led the match with a career-high nine blocks.
 
For the second-straight match, the Rattlers topped the century mark as a team in digs with 102. It is the first time since 2017 the team has surpassed 100 digs in back-to-back matches. Also garnering double figures in digs was sophomore Nadia Manitzas (San Antonio) with a career-high tying 15.
 
Sophomore Julia Aleman (San Antonio) was the second Rattler in double figures in kills with 14, while four other players notched between five and seven.
 
The Rattlers don't get much time to rest, returning to Bill Greehey Arena on Saturday for a 2 p.m. match against Eastern New Mexico. The Greyhounds were swept by St. Edward's earlier this evening.
 
INDIVIDUAL PLAYER & TEAM NOTES

• For the first time since 2017, the team has recorded 100 or more digs in back-to-back matches. Last Saturday at UT-Permian Basin and on Friday against the Buffs, the Rattlers totaled 102. The last time the team accomplished the feat was 9/23/17 at DBU and 9/28/17 against Lubbock Christian.
• Alissa Tolbert posted her 12th double-double and second 20-20 of the year with a career-high 28 kills and 24 digs. Both totals tied for match-high honors. It is her 37th career double-double and third 20-20 of her standout career. She topped the 800 career mark in both kills and digs.
• Four of the five sets in the match were decided by the minimum two points with StMU winning two and WT winning two.
• Friday marked the fifth straight match the Rattlers have served more aces than errors. StMU had nine aces with only three errors.
• Aislan Lennon posted her sixth double-double of the year and the 14th of her career with 24 assists and 11 digs, while Cali Nims had her second with 33 assists and 12 digs.
• The nine blocks by senior Julia Deais is a career-high, surpassing her previous mark of seven she'd accomplished twice previously. It is also the 11th time in her career she's had five or more blocks in a match.