Volleyball Suffers Five-Set Setback to Dustdevils

SAN ANTONIO — Playing only the fifth match at home all season, the St. Mary's University Volleyball team couldn't quite close the door on visiting Texas A&M International Wednesday night, falling in five sets, 25-18, 17-25, 13-25, 25-22, 10-15.
 
The Rattlers (10-12, 5-6 Lone Star Conference) started quickly out of the gates, winning the first set by seven points and making just two unforced hitting errors, but the Dustdevils (15-7, 7-3 Lone Star) came storming back, winning the next two sets by large margins. In the fourth set, the Rattlers used a balanced attack to get the win as six players recorded two or three kills and sophomore libero Alyssa Koehl (New Braunfels, Texas) served both of her aces. In the fifth and deciding set, TAMIU used a five-point scoring run to take the 5-2 lead and they were able to hold on for the win.
 
StMU tied its season-high with 90 digs, led by Koehl's 25. It is the second straight match she's topped the 20-dig milestone. Junior setter Cali Nims (Corpus Christi, Texas) added 18, while both Landri Withers (Stephenville, Texas) and Leah Cruz (Laredo, Texas) each chipped in 10.
 
Junior Alicia Virthe (Orlando, Fla.) led the team with 15 kills, while sophomore Laurene Robinson (Bedford, Texas) narrowly missed a double-double recording nine kills and nine digs. Sophomore Dallasstar Johnson (San Antonio) led the match with six blocks and senior setter Aislan Lennon (Houston) and Koehl each had two aces.
 
Freshman Olivia Rubio (San Antonio) recorded the first extended action of her young career, tallying two kills on four swings, starting the fourth and fifth sets.
 
TAMIU was led by Ariana Guerra with 22 kills, while libero Giulia Hortelan led with 21 digs and Jasmin Garcia recorded four blocks. 
 
The busy week continues for the Rattlers on Friday as they head to Oklahoma City for a meeting with Oklahoma Christian at 6 p.m. and then continue on for a 2 p.m. match at UAFS on Saturday. OC dropped a four-set decision at UT Tyler, while UAFS fell in four at DBU on Wednesday night.