Volleyball Caps Season with Four Set Win over Javelinas

SAN ANTONIO — One day after earning Defensive Player of the Week honors by the Lone Star Conference, St. Mary's University sophomore libero put on a clinic in the final match of the season, recording a career-high 31 digs to help lift the Rattlers Volleyball team to a four-set victory over Texas A&M Kingsville, 25-14, 18-25, 25-18, 25-14.
 
The win snaps a nine-match losing streak against the Javelinas (18-8, 10-4 Lone Star Conference) and gives the Rattlers (12-15, 7-9 Lone Star) their second win over a regionally-ranked team in the last week (UT Tyler).
 
In addition to the career-high 31 digs, Koehl narrowly missed her first double-double with a career-high nine assists. Three other Rattlers did manage to hit double digits in two different categories as both setters Aislan Lennon (Houston) and Cali Nims (Corpus Christi, Texas) posted double-doubles in assists and digs and Landri Withers (Stephenville, Texas) had 10 kills and 11 digs.
 
Lennon wrapped up her career with 17 assists and 14 digs for the 20th double-double in four years, while Nims had 19 assists and 11 digs for the 29th of her career.
 
Both Dallasstar Johnson (San Antonio) and Alicia Virthe (Orlando, Fla.) were tied for second on the team with eight kills, and Laurene Robinson (Bedford, Texas) added seven.
 
St. Mary's trailed 8-3 in the first set before catching fire, scoring 22 of the final 28 points for the 25-14 win. 
 
The teams were tied five times in the second set and there were two lead changes before the Javelinas pulled out the 25-18 victory.
 
The five-minute break between sets two and three allowed the Rattlers to refocus and come out firing on all cylinders to win 25-18 and 25-14 and earn their 12th victory of the season. In almost a story-book moment, senior Lindsey Ogle (Houston) scored the final point of the night, hitting a kill from the right side to put an exclamation point on her career.
 
TAMUK was led by both Ayanna Jackson and Meghan Stiefer with 13 kills each. Stiefer also led the team with 16 digs and Jackson posted a match-high four blocks.
 
The win wraps up the 2023 season for the Rattlers.