SAN ANTONIO – Playing at home for the first time in 2021, the St. Mary's Volleyball team dropped a three-set match to 23rd-ranked UT-Tyler, 25-20, 25-22, 25-21.
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The Rattlers (7-3, 1-2 Lone Star Conference) out-blocked the Patriots 6.0-5.5 and four different Rattlers blocked two balls each - including freshman right side
Alicia Virthe (Orlando, Fla.) with two solo stops.
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Senior outside hitter
Alissa Tolbert (San Antonio) collected a team-high 10 kills and led the team with 12 digs, recording her ninth double-double in 10 matches. Sophomore right-side hitter
Julia Aleman (San Antonio) notched eight kills without a hitting error on 20 swings (.400).Â
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Both setters
Aislan Lennon (Houston) and
Cali Nims (Corpus Christi, Texas) recorded 14 assists each and sophomore DS
Nadia Manitzas (San Antonio) tallied three service aces – giving her at least one ace in five consecutive matches.Â
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The Patriots (7-0, 3-0 Lone Star) were led by senior outside hitter Mikayla Ware with a match-high 18 kills and she was one of three with 11 digs. Callie Craus led the match with four aces and three different players had three blocks each.
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St. Mary's remains at home for a match on Saturday at 2 p.m. against Texas A&M-Commerce. The Lions lost in four at St. Edward's earlier this evening.
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INDIVIDUAL PLAYER & TEAM NOTES
- For the fifth time this year, the Rattlers out-blocked an opponent, 6.0-5.5.Â
- Alissa Tolbert posted her ninth double-double in 10 matches this season with 10 kills and 12 digs.
- Nadia Manitzas now has a streak of five-straight matches with at least one service ace. She's had multiple aces in four of the five.
- Five times this season, including tonight, the Rattlers have had an even or positive ace-to-error ratio from the service line. Against the Patriots, the Rattlers collected four aces with only one error.
- Junior libero Gabi Sandoval (San Antonio) tallied a kill for the second straight match, getting a free ball to fall.Â
