Volleyball Blocks Way to Win

SAN ANTONIO — The never-say-die attitude of the St. Mary's Volleyball team wore down Eastern New Mexico in a 26-24, 25-15, 25-12 victory on Friday night.
 
On Pink Out Night, where the Rattlers helped raise awareness for breast cancer research and several signs read Block Out Cancer, the team recorded a season-best 19 block assists. 
 
The 19 block assists for StMU are the third-most in a three-set match during the rally-scoring era (2008-present). 
 
In the first set, the Rattlers (8-8, 3-2 Lone Star Conference) posted another big comeback as they trailed 24-21 but scored the final five points to pull off the win. Sophomore OH Landri Withers (Stephenville, Texas) recorded a kill for the 22nd point, sophomore MB Dallasstar Johnson (San Antonio) served an ace right in the back left corner of the court for point 23 and freshman RS Kelly Swyers (Austin, Texas) notched back-to-back kills for the 25-24 edge. The Greyhounds made an error for the 26-24 final. It is the second time in the last three matches that the Rattlers faced a significant deficit and overcame it, as they were down 21-16 in the fourth set at Cameron last Friday.
 
Junior setter Cali Nims (Corpus Christi, Texas) served an ace in the first set that clipped the tape and rolled over for the 11th point and her 77th career service ace. She added another ace in the second set for #78 and sole possession of 19th place on the StMU career aces list. 
 
The teams went back-and-forth during the first part of the second set with six ties and one lead change, but the relentless play by StMU seemed to deflate the Greyhounds (8-11, 0-6 Lone Star). The final tie happened at 13-13 when the Rattlers shifted into a higher gear, scoring 12 of the final 14 points for the 25-15 win. Both senior setter Aislan Lennon (Houston) and sophomore DS Isabella Waggoner (Texas City, Texas) posted four-point serving runs late in the set.
 
StMU led wire-to-wire in the third and final set, jumping out to 9-1 run and winning 25-12.
 
Junior Alicia Virthe (Orlando, Fla.) once again led the Rattlers in kills with 10. She also hit a season-best .381 (10-2-21). Both Swyers and Johnson were second with eight kills each. Sophomore libero Alyssa Koehl (New Braunfels, Texas) led the team with 14 digs, while Johnson continued to play well at the net, recording six blocks to lead the match.
 
St. Mary's hosts Lubbock Christian on Saturday at 2 p.m. for Senior Day, honoring the four seniors on the roster. The Lady Chaps came back at St. Edward's for the five-set victory after losing the opening two sets.