September 28, 2011
LAREDO, Texas – This wasn’t what the St. Mary’s Lady Rattlers had envisioned while making the commute to Laredo on Wednesday.
Seemingly in command on its match against Texas A&M International, St. Mary’s volleyball team saw a two-set lead vanish as the Dustdevils won the final three sets to etch a stunning, 3-2 Heartland Conference victory.
The Rattlers won the first two sets 25-20, 25-22, but slipped in the ensuing two games 17-25, 23-25.
The decisive fifth set saw seven ties before A&M International eventually broke away, 17-15.
The loss dropped St. Mary’s (12-2, 3-2 Heartland Conference) to fourth place in the league standings.
Statistically, the Rattlers couldn’t have done much more. Setter Allie Murray (Jr., San Antonio) had a career-high 56 assists, while outside hitter Karlie Ortega (So., San Antonio) was one off her career-high with 21 kills.
Freshman libero Victorria Martinez (Fr., Arlington, Texas) added a team-leading 21 digs, while Murray and Ortega had 16 and 10, respectively.
Kirsten Chapman (Sr., Jourdanton, Texas) posted 17 kills and Taylor Obermiller (Fr., San Antonio) had 11.
St. Mary’s will now head to the Pittsburg State University Tournament in Pittsburg, Kan., where it will play Missouri Southern State and Northwest Missouri State on Friday.