SAN ANTONIO — The St. Mary's University Volleyball pushed No. 6 Angelo State to the limit in the Lone Star Conference opener, falling in five sets 25-22, 33-31, 15-25, 22-25, 12-15 on Friday night inside Bill Greehey Arena. It is the seventh time in 11 matches this season that StMU has played a five-set match.
 
The Rattlers (7-4, 0-1) thought they had extended the match on a kill from junior Taylor Alston (San Antonio), but the Rambelles (11-1, 1-0) challenged four hits earlier in the rally and were successful, winning the match.
 
StMU won the first set and laid it all on the line in the second set, as the two teams were tied 16 times and there were seven lead changes before the Rattlers pulled out the 33-31 victory. The 33 points tied the St. Mary's school record for most points scored in a set in the 25-point scoring era (2008-present). The team also won 33-31 at UAFS on Oct. 6, 2018.
 
The Rambelles showed why they are the preseason favorites to win the Lone Star title, winning the next three sets, including scoring 19 of their 25 points in the third set by way of a kill. In the fourth set, the Rattlers saved four set points before ASU finally pulled out the 25-22 victory. 
 
In the final set, the two teams were tied 12 times and saw four lead changes before the Rambelles scored the final three points, including the reversed play on match point.
 
Graduate student Laurene Robinson (Bedford, Texas) led the match with 26 kills, hitting an outstanding .489 (26-3-47) in the match. Sophomore Tara Creekmore (Canton, Mich.) and Alston were also both in double figures in kills with 13 and 11, respectively. It is the fifth time this season that Robinson has recorded more than 20 kills in a match.
 
Junior libero Kaylee Cavazos (San Antonio) recorded a career-high five service aces and led the team with 18 digs. Her five aces are tied for the third-most in a five-set match in school history and tie the record in the modern scoring era. She is the sixth Rattler to have five aces in a five-setter.
 
Senior setter Haleigh Wilk (Salado, Texas) posted her fourth double-double of the season with 47 assists and 10 digs, and she chipped in five kills. It is also the 14th double-double of her career.
 
Both middle blockers, senior Olivia Rubio (San Antonio) and freshman Madyson Carr (Houston), tied for match-high honors with five each, as the Rattlers out-blocked the 'Belles 10-to-7.
 
Angelo State was led by Sydney Thornton with 16 kills, while defending LSC Player of the Year Madi Parrish totaled nine aces and libero Allie Duitsman led the match with 22 digs.
 
The Rattlers also recorded nine aces in the match, which is more than twice as many as any other Angelo State opponent this season. Three different teams had served four against ASU prior to Friday.
 
St. Mary's remains at home, hosting UT Permian Basin on Saturday at 2 p.m. The Falcons were swept by St. Edward's on Friday evening.