Balanced Attack Lifts Volleyball to Sweep

SAN ANTONIO – After a slow start in the first set, the St. Mary's Volleyball team turned up the heat at the first timeout and kept it high throughout the remainder of the match, sweeping UT Permian Basin, 25-14, 25-22, 25-17 on Friday night.
 
The Rattlers (11-9, 7-2 Lone Star Conference) trailed 6-1 when Head Coach Laura Ulrich called for the break. After the teams traded points, StMU went on a 23-7 run, thanks in large part to freshman middle blocker Dallasstar Johnson who collected four kills and five blocks in the set to help led the team to the 25-14 win.
 
Johnson tied her own school record for total blocks in a three-set match with 10 (1 solo, 9 assists) and it is the second time this season she's had 10 in a match (vs Southeastern Oklahoma State, Sept. 2). She added eight kills on 15 swings with only one error for a .467 night.
 
Sophomore opposite Alicia Virthe (Orlando, Fla.) was nearly unstoppable in her attack, leading the team with 11 kills on 22 swings, with only one error for a .455 hitting percentage. Freshman outside Landri Withers (Stephenville, Texas) added 10 kills and senior Sadie Hough (Cleburne, Texas) chipped in seven kills.
 
Setters Cali Nims (Corpus Christi, Texas) and Aislan Lennon (Houston) each tallied another double-double as Nims had 24 assists and 11 digs, while Lennon added 16 assists and 10 digs.
 
Lennon led the way with three service aces, while sophomore defensive specialist Leah Cruz (Laredo, Texas) added two. Freshman libero Alyssa Koehl (New Braunfels, Texas) extended a lot of rallies for the Rattlers, leading the match with 19 digs.
 
The Rattlers defense held the Falcons (10-10, 5-4 LSC) to just .047 hitting on the night. 
 
St. Mary's has now won five straight matches and takes on Angelo State on Saturday at 2 p.m. The Rambelles swept St. Edward's on Friday evening in Austin.
 
INDIVIDUAL PLAYER & TEAM NOTES

• For the second time this season, Dallasstar Johnson recorded double figures in blocks, tying the school record with 10.
• The 11 kills for Alicia Virthe are a season-high, passing the 10 she had at Central Oklahoma on Sept. 2.
• The double-double for Cali Nims is her eighth of the season and 14th of her career, while Aislan Lennon recorded her second in 2022 and 18th of her career.
• After losing twice to the Falcons last season, the Rattlers flipped the script, winning both matches in 2022.
• St. Mary's has now won five consecutive matches and is tied for fourth in the league standings with Saturday's opponent, Angelo State. The five-match winning streak is the third longest active streak in the Lone Star, trailing West Texas A&M (10) and DBU (8).