LAREDO, Texas – St. Mary's middle blocker
Julia Deais continued her stellar junior season with a career-high 18 kills in a four-set loss at Texas A&M International on Wednesday evening.
Deais, a junior from San Antonio also hit a match-high .366 (18-3-41) as the Rattlers (2-4, 2-4 Lone Star Conference) fell 12-25, 20-25, 25-17, 23-25 to the Dust Devils (3-5, 3-5 Lone Star).
StMU totaled 100 digs – the sixth-highest total in school history in a four-set match and the most since the team had 104 in a five-set loss at St. Edward's on Nov. 3, 2018.
Five different Rattlers recorded double figures in digs, led by junior OH
Alissa Tolbert (San Antonio) with 20. Freshman
Isabella Dena (San Antonio), who took over at the libero spot in the third set, notched a career-best 18 digs, while freshman setter
Aislan Lennon (Houston) notched 16 and both senior
Catherine Cruz (San Antonio) and freshman
Nadia Manitzas (San Antonio) each chipped in 10.
Lennon tallied her fourth-straight double-double adding 21 assists, while senior
Lindsey Kaufman (Coral Springs, Fla.) added 22 assists.
After four straight road matches, the Rattlers will get to return to the friendly confines of Bill Greehey for their next three matches, hosting Texas A&M Kingsville on Sunday, February 28 at 4 p.m. before hosting the Hilltoppers for a pair on March 2 and 3.
INDIVIDUAL PLAYER & TEAM NOTES
- Junior Julia Deais posted a career-high 18 kills, one night after tying her previous high with 14 kills.
- Junior Alissa Tolbert had her streak of double-doubles stopped as she recorded nine kills and a season-high 20 digs.
- Freshman Isabella Dena totaled a career-high 18 digs in just her third match with the Rattlers. It is the second-highest dig total by a StMU player this season, behind the 20 Tolbert recorded.
- The 100 digs by St. Mary's is the sixth-highest total in a four-set match and the most since the team recorded 104 at St. Edward's on Nov. 3, 2018 in five sets.
- Freshman setter Aislan Lennon recorded her fourth-straight double-double and fifth of the year with 21 assists and 16 digs.
