October 13, 2011
ODESSA, Texas – The St. Mary’s volleyball team will have to wait another match to rediscover the rhythm it possessed to start the season.
Texas-Permian Basin swept the Rattlers 3-0 in a pivotal Heartland Conference battle at the Falcon Dome.
Stephanie Proske (Sr., La Grange, Texas) led St. Mary’s with 11 kills and Allie Murray (Jr., San Antonio) registered 30 kills, but it wasn’t enough with the Falcons firing on all cylinders.
UTPB (12-12, 4-4) hit .294 as a team, helping separate from the Rattlers to take over sole possession of fifth place in the Heartland Conference. Only the top four teams will advance to the conference tournament, which will be held in November at the top-seeded team’s court.
The Rattlers dropped to 13-8 on the season with a 3-5 conference mark.
The match was back and forth early, with St. Mary’s tying the first set 23-23 before seeing the Falcons break away with the final two points. Capitalizing on the momentum, UTPB won the next two sets 25-15, 25-22.
Victorria Martinez (Fr., Arlington, Texas) led the Rattlers with 13 digs, while fellow freshman Devan Hartung (Fr., Hondo, Texas) had 11.
St. Mary’s will be back in action Saturday, when they travel to Goodwell, Okla., to play Oklahoma Panhandle State at 10 a.m.