KINGSVILLE, Texas — The St. Mary's University Volleyball team went the distance for the third-straight match, falling to Findlay in five sets before bouncing back for a sweep over Montana State-Billings on Friday at the Javelina Invitational.
 
The Rattlers are now 4-3 on the season after the Friday split and conclude the tournament against Lone Star Conference rival Texas A&M-Kingsville on Saturday. First serve is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.
 
Findlay 3, St. Mary's 2
Despite three players reaching double figures in kills, the Rattlers were unable to hold onto the 2-1 advantage, falling in five sets, 20-25, 25-18, 25-21, 18-25, 9-15 on Friday morning at the SPEC.
 
Once again, graduate student Laurene Robinson (Bedford, Texas) led the Rattlers in kills, notching 13 on 31 swings, and she also recorded a team-high 17 digs for her second double-double of the season. Junior Taylor Alston (San Antonio) totaled one fewer kill than Robinson with 12, and sophomore Tara Creekmore (Canton, Mich.) was in double digits for the second-straight match with 10 kills. 
 
Neither team was able to post much of a blocking presence, as the two teams combined for only eight in the five-setter, and Robinson led all players with four, while freshman Madyson Carr (Houston) added three.
 
Junior Kaylee Cavazos (San Antonio) continued her streak of double-digits in digs, bringing up 12, and senior Haleigh Wilk (Salado, Texas) narrowly missed another double-double with 40 assists and eight digs. She also added three kills.
 
St. Mary's 3, Montana State-Billings 0
The Rattlers dominated the Yellowjackets (1-4) in their nightcap on Friday, winning 25-20, 25-12, 25-13, fighting back from a three-point deficit in the first set, 18-15, scoring seven of the final 12 points to gain the momentum and keep it through the final two sets for the team's second sweep of the year.
 
Alston paced the Gold & Blue attack, leading the match with 14 kills, while Robinson added 11. 
 
Carr drove the defense, having a hand in all three blocks for the Rattlers, while Cavazos was the only player in the match to record double digits in digs, garnering 11. The Rattlers held the Yellowjackets to an .068 hitting percentage
 
Junior Addison Carrillo (San Antonio) had a match-high three aces, as the team served up nine, and senior Kelly Swyers (Austin, Texas) capped the night with an ace serve on match point – in her first service attempt of 2026.