Volleyball Wins First Match of 2022; Earns a Split on Day One of Classic

EDMOND, Okla. – Behind a record-setting 10 block assists from Dallasstar Johnson, the St. Mary's Volleyball Team earned a split on day one of the UCO/OC Classic. The Rattlers dropped the opening match to host, Central Oklahoma in four sets (25-16, 25-16, 21-25, 25-17) before bouncing back to sweep Southeastern Oklahoma State (25-23, 25-13, 25-23).
 
Johnson, a freshman middle blocker from San Antonio, recorded 10 block assists against the Savage Storm, breaking the St. Mary's record of eight in a three-set match, recorded by both Laura Sudano and Stephanie Crowell against Oklahoma Panhandle State in 2006. She also had a pair of blocks against UCO in the first match and is averaging 1.25 per set.
 
The Rattlers play Emporia State at 10 a.m. at UCO and close out the tournament with a match against Southern Nazarene at 4:30 p.m. on the Oklahoma Christian campus.
 
UCO RECAP
Sophomore right side hitter Alicia Virthe (Orlando, Fla.) enjoys playing in the Edmond/Oklahoma City area. A season ago as a freshman, she tallied 40 kills, hit .326 and tallied five blocks on her way to All-Tournament honors at the OC Classic in three matches. She started this season's tournament with a season-high 10 kills, hit .333 and posted three digs and a block.
 
Freshman libero Alyssa Koehl (New Braunfels, Texas) posted a career-high with 24 digs, while junior outside hitter Brianna Morris-Worth (Yukon, Okla.) added an StMU career-high 15 digs. The pair also combined for 59 of the team's 91 receptions in the match. 
 
In the third set, the Rattlers did a much better job of blocking the Bronchos attack and winning the long rallies, winning 25-21. StMU had four blocks in the set and 15 kills, surpassing the 14 kills they tallied in the first two sets combined.
 
SEOSU RECAP
The first win of the season for the young Rattlers club came the way of the sweep. StMU battled back from an eight-point deficit, 14-6 in the third set to complete the win 25-23. 
 
The Rattlers notched six blocks in the opening set, helping them win 25-23. Johnson had four block assists, while senior Sadie Hough (Cleburne, Texas) added four kills and Koehl had 11 digs.
 
StMU scored the final seven points of the second stanza en route to a 25-13 win. 
 
In the final set after trailing by eight, the Rattlers battled back and tied the set 17-17 with a beautiful tip by freshman Landri Withers (Stephenville, Texas). A block by Hough and Morris-Worth gave the Rattlers their first lead of the set, 18-17 and they went on to win 25-23.
 
Withers led the match with 10 kills, hitting .429 (10-1-21) from the right side. Koehl ended the match with 17 digs, while Morris-Worth chipped in 14. Sophomore setter Cali Nims (Corpus Christi, Texas) served four aces.
 
INDIVIDUAL PLAYER & TEAM NOTES

• Freshman libero Alyssa Koehl recorded a career-high 24 digs against Central Oklahoma, doubling her previous high of 12 from the season-opening match against Northwest Missouri State.
• Freshman Dallasstar Johnson posted 10 block assists, breaking the StMU three-set record of eight from 2006.
• The .193 hitting percentage against the Savage Storm is the highest of the season for the Rattlers.
• The team also combined for 30 block assists in the win over SEOSU, breaking the three-set school record of 28 against Drury on Oct. 13, 2000.