ODESSA, Texas – The first appearance in the Lone Star Conference Tournament didn't go the way St. Mary's Head Volleyball Coach
Laura Ulrich drew it up, as the Rattlers lost in straight sets at UT-Permian Basin on Tuesday night, 25-23, 25-15, 25-20.
Sophomore OH
Julia Aleman (San Antonio) enjoys playing at the Falcon Dome as she led the team with 12 kills after posting a career-high 17 kills there during the regular season. She hit .417 for the match (12-2-24) and had her first serve of the season in the first set. Senior MB
Rachel McDonald (Indianapolis, Ind.) was second with seven kills, hitting .263.
Junior libero
Gabi Sandoval (San Antonio) led the match with 16 digs, while both senior OH
Alissa Tolbert (San Antonio) and sophomore DS
Nadia Manitzas (San Antonio) chipped in 10 each.
The Rattler block that has been so prevalent the last few weeks, managed only four blocks despite getting their hands on many others as the Falcon defense covered their hitters extremely well.
St. Mary's ends Coach Ulrich's first season with a 14-11 record, while UTPB advances to the semifinals with a mark of 16-10.
"I'm really proud of the hard work the team put in all season," Ulrich said. "Unfortunately, it ended here tonight. We couldn't overcome our errors against a tough opponent. Thank you to our seniors for leading us to several milestones for the program."
Freshman setter
Cali Nims (Corpus Christi, Texas) narrowly missed another double-double as she had 18 assists and nine digs, while sophomore setter
Aislan Lennon (Houston) added 10 assists.
The Rattlers say good-bye to four seniors in
Julia Deais (San Antonio), McDonald, Sandoval and Tolbert.
INDIVIDUAL PLAYER & TEAM NOTES
- Senior Alissa Tolbert finishes her career as one of only three players in the school's Division II history to record both 900 kills and digs, finishing with 947 kills and 981 digs.
- Gabi Sandoval led the team in digs 19 times during the 2021 season and finished her career hitting double figures 29 times.
- Junior Sadie Hough (Cleburne, Texas) played in her first match since Sept. 4 and had one of the team's four block assists.
- The match against UT-Permian Basin was the Rattlers' first-ever in the Lone Star Conference Tournament in the team's third year in the league.
- DBU, St. Edward's and Oklahoma Christian were all winners in the other quarterfinal matches.
