AUSTIN, Texas — The St. Mary's University Volleyball team tied the school record for aces in a three-set match with 13 in the regular season finale sweep over St. Edward's on Saturday afternoon, 25-23, 25-17, 25-22.
The Rattlers (17-10, 9-7) turned up the heat at the service line, serving seven aces in the second set and five in the third, as well as disrupting the Hilltoppers (10-17, 2-14) offense throughout the match while missing only one serve in the entire match.
All six players who served recorded at least one ace, led by senior defensive specialist
Leah Cruz (Laredo, Texas) with four, while sophomore
Olivia Rubio (San Antonio) added a career-best three and led the club with two blocks.
Offensively, junior
Landri Withers (Stephenville, Texas) notched a match-high 15 kills, while senior
Alicia Virthe (Orlando, Fla.) posted 11 kills and an outstanding .524 hitting percentage (11-0-21).
The trio of defensive specialists were all over the back of the court throughout the match as junior libero
Alyssa Koehl (New Braunfels, Texas) led the way with 21 digs, while Cruz and junior
Isabella Waggoner (Texas City, Texas) each had 12.
It is the 10th straight-set sweep for the Rattlers this season, which is the most since the 2006 team also won 10 in three sets.Â
St. Mary's has qualified for the Lone Star Conference Tournament, and the seedings will be announced on Saturday evening. West Texas A&M will once again serve as the tournament host after going 16-0 in LSC play. StMU enters postseason play on a three-match winning streak.
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