Volleyball Splits on Final Day of Gorilla Classic

PITTSBURG, Kan. – The St. Mary's Volleyball team earned a split on the final day of the Gorilla Classic, defeating Sioux Falls in four sets before dropping their first match of the year to host Pittsburg State.
 
The Rattlers are now 6-1 on the season and are a perfect 5-0 in neutral site matches.
 
St. Mary's turns its attention to Lone Star Conference play as they travel to DBU and Texas Woman's on Friday and Saturday, respectively. 
 
SIOUX FALLS RECAP
When you ask the vast majority of volleyball coaches what it takes to win they'll tell you serving and defense and those were both on display Saturday morning for the Rattlers as they notched a season-high 12 blocks in the four-set victory over Sioux Falls and had more service aces than errors for the first time in 2021.
 
StMU defeated the Cougars (4-3) in the first match of the day, 25-22, 25-20, 24-26, 25-13 and collected eight aces with only five errors. Senior libero Gabi Sandoval (San Antonio) had three aces, while sophomores Nadia Manitzas (San Antonio) and Aislan Lennon (Houston) chipped in two each.
 
The 12 blocks are the first time this season the squad has hit double digits in that category and they were led by freshman Alicia Virthe (Orlando, Fla.) with five, while senior outside hitter Alissa Tolbert (San Antonio) added three.
 
Virthe and Tolbert also led the team with 16 kills each, while Virthe hit a match-high .375 (16-4-32). Lennon led a tio of Rattlers in double figure digs with 14, while Sandoval recorded 12 and Tolbert collected 11. The Cougars also picked on Tolbert while serving, as she received 32 balls without getting aced.
 
The defense held Sioux Falls to a .104 hitting percentage, the lowest for any opponent in 2021 – and the Cougars totaled just two blocks on the Rattlers.
 
PITT STATE RECAP
The Rattlers struggled to get into an offensive rhythm in the nightcap against the host Gorillas. St. Mary's hit a season-low .097, while PSU hit .357.
 
Virthe led the team with 12 kills, while Sandoval led with 11 digs. Manitzas and Nims each had two service aces and Lennon collected 16 assists. 
 
Coach Laura Ulrich experimented with several different lineups during the match and eight different Rattlers notched at least one kill on the afternoon and 11 took at least one swing.
 
INDIVIDUAL PLAYER & TEAM NOTES

• Alicia Virthe, Alissa Tolbert and Julia Deais were all named to the All-Tournament team. This is the second-straight weekly honor for both Virthe and Tolbert.
• The 6-1 start for the Rattlers is the best since the 2011 team began 10-0.

 
Tournament Results
Thurs.      Pitt State 3, Truman 0
Fri.            Pitt State 3, Northwestern Oklahoma State 0
                  St. Mary's 3, Truman 2
                  Pitt State 3, Sioux Falls 2
                  St. Mary's 3, Northwestern Oklahoma State 1
                  Sioux Falls 3, Truman 0
Sat.           St. Mary's 3, Sioux Falls 1
                  Northwestern Oklahoma State 3, Truman 0
                  Pitt State 3, St. Mary's 0
                  Sioux Falls vs Northwestern Oklahoma State, 5:30 p.m.