September 18, 2008
GOODWELL, Okla. – St. Mary’s University broke a seven-match losing streak, rolling past Oklahoma Panhandle State, 25-15, 25-22, 25-17, in Heartland Conference volleyball action Thursday night at Oscar Williams Gymnasium.
The Rattlers hit a season-best .352 in the match, picking up 43 kills against just 11 attack errors. In contrast OPSU had 28 kills and 23 attack errors for a .061 percentage. Sarah Moreno (Sr., Pearland) and Katelyn Kershner (So., San Antonio) led the way for the Rattlers with nine kills apiece.
St. Mary’s had little trouble in the first set, taking a 15-5 lead, on the way to a 25-15 win. In the second set OPSU took an early 7-3 advantage. The Aggies led for most of the set, until the Rattlers went on a 6-2 run late in the game to take a 20-19 lead. From there the Rattlers held on, with Kershner picking up two kills in the last three serves. The Rattlers made short work of the Aggies in the last set, taking the early lead and never let OPSU within six points the rest of the way.
With the win the Rattlers are now 4-7 overall and 1-0 in Heartland Conference play this season. OPSU fell to 2-10, 0-1. St. Mary’s will return to action on Saturday when they continue their road trip in Wichita, Kan. to face Newman University at 2 p.m.