Volleyball Drops Heartbreaker In LSC Opener

DENTON, Texas – In a back-and-forth battle, the St. Mary's Volleyball Team ended on the short end in the Lone Star Conference opener at Texas Woman's, falling in five sets where the first three all went extra points.
 
The Rattlers fell to 4-8 on the season with the 27-29, 28-26, 26-28, 25-12, 3-15 loss but have a short turnaround, playing at Midwestern State on Saturday on Noon.
 
Freshman outside hitter Landri Withers (Stephenville, Texas) recorded the first double-double by a non-setter this season, posting career-highs with 19 kills and 17 digs. She also led the team with two blocks and tied for the team lead with junior outside hitter Brianna Morris-Worth (Yukon, Okla.) with three service aces. Junior Lindsey Ogle (Houston) added a season-best 12 kills.
 
Sophomore setter Cali Nims (Corpus Christi, Texas) notched a season-high 33 assists and had her third double-double of the year with 15 digs. She also served two aces in the match that took two hours and 38 minutes. Freshmen Alyssa Koehl (New Braunfels, Texas) and Dallasstar Johnson (San Antonio) each added double figures in digs with 16 and 13, respectively, as the Rattlers had a season-high 96 digs.
 
Neither team led by more than four points throughout the first three sets, forcing 38 ties and 18 lead changes between the two clubs. The fourth set was all StMU as the team blasted five aces with no service errors and hit .333, while TWU was able to regroup and go on an 8-0 run to win the fifth stanza.
 
INDIVIDUAL PLAYER & TEAM NOTES

• Both Cali Nims (33 a-15 d) and Landri Withers (19 k-17 d) posted double-doubles in the match. It is the second time this year two Rattlers have had a double-double in the same match as both Nims and freshman Abbey Stiffler posted them in the win over UTPB.
• Friday was also the second time this season the Rattlers have recorded 10 or more aces in a match, second only to the 13 from last week against the Falcons.
• Four players recorded double figures in digs for the first time since Nov. 6, 2021 at Texas A&M Kingsville.
• For the second-straight match, senior Sadie Hough (Cleburne, Texas) came in and provided a spark as hit .500 (9-1-16).