Lone Star Conference Opener
Friday, September 16 • Denton • Kitty Magee Arena
St. Mary's (4-7, 0-0) at Texas Woman's (9-3, 0-0) • 6 p.m.
Saturday, September 17 • Wichita Falls • D.L. Ligon Coliseum
St. Mary's at Midwestern State (2-10, 0-0) • 12 p.m.
Conference Play Looms: St. Mary's will begin Lone Star Conference play at Texas Woman's on Friday and head to Midwestern State on Saturday. The Pioneers started 1-3, but have won eight straight, including dropping only one set in four matches during the Lone Star Crossover last week. TWU has been home for all eight matches of its streak, opposite of the Rattlers, who have yet to play at home. The Mustangs are 2-10 on the year and went 1-3 last week in Denton.Â
Start 'Em Young: Freshmen lead the Rattlers in every statistical category through 11 matches. Landri Withers has led the team in kills seven times this season and in each of the last six matches. She ranks 20th in the Lone Star in kills per set (2.69) and fourth amongst true freshman. Alyssa Koehl leads the team in digs with 3.65 per set, which is 19th in the league and third among freshmen. Dallasstar Johnson leads the team with 1.11 blocks per set, which is 10th in the league. Abbey Stiffler averages 3.92 assists and is tied for the team lead with 0.38 aces per set, which is tied for 11th in the league.
Series Histories: St. Mary's is 10-6 all-time against Texas Woman's and won last season's meeting in three sets. It was the first time the teams had met since 2015. The Rattlers trail 10-7 in the series with Midwestern State, but won last season in four sets in the first Lone Star match between the two. StMU has won three straight over MSU, but this will be the first match in Wichita Falls since 1988.
New Kids On The Block: The Rattlers have established themselves as one of the best blocking teams in the nation. St. Mary's currently ranks 29th amongst Division II teams (281) and fifth in the Lone Star Conference with 2.35 blocks per set. Against Southeastern Oklahoma State, the Rattlers recorded 15 total blocks, tying for the second most in StMU history in a three-set match and the 30 block assists is a new 3-set record, breaking the mark of 28. Freshman Dallasstar Johnson also established a new record for individual block assists in that match with 10, surpassing the previous total of eight.
That's Efficient: Senior Sadie Hough tied the school record for hitting percentage (10-14 attacks) in a match, hitting .900 (9-0-10) against UAFS on Saturday. Hough entered the starting lineup for the third set and sparked the Rattlers, as she also led the team with three blocks in the match.
Coaching Connections: Head Coach Laura Ulrich is no stranger to the Kitty Magee Arena, site of the Lone Star opener for the Rattlers. Both Laura and assistant coach Dave Ulrich were assistant coaches at TWU for several seasons before joining the StMU staff.
Closing In: St. Mary's is now 13 wins shy of 900 in program history. The Rattlers are 887-681 all-time in their 46th season of volleyball.
