SAN ANTONIO -- Koryn Johnson led Midwestern State (3-11, 0-2) with 15 kills and added 13 digs, while
Lauryn Bourne finished with 10 kills and 19 digs, but St. Mary's (6-7, 1-1) prevailed at Bill Greehey Arena on Saturday afternoon, 3-1.
Midwestern State jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the opening set and led 10-5 before the Rattlers won seven of eight points to take a 13-11 lead. The set featured six ties and five lead changes. The Mustangs overtook the Rattlers and led 22-21. Landri Withers had two kills and Cali Nims delivered an ace as St. Mary's won the final four points to take the set, 25-21.
The second set was another tightly contested frame with 16 ties and eight lead changes. Neither side led by more than two points until the Mustangs won four of five points to forge a 20-17 lead. Johnson had two kills and
Isabella Dickens also had a kill during the run for MSU. Alicia Virthe answered with two kills for St. Mary's and Landry Cate ended a four-point run with a kill as the Rattlers took a 21-20 lead.
With the set knotted, 23-23, the Rattlers got a block from Landry and Nims setup Virthe for the decisive kill as St. Mary's took a 2-0 lead with a 25-23 victory.
Midwestern State was undeterred and rallied from a 13-10 deficit in the third set. Johnson and Dickens both had kills,
Riley Rabedeaux served back-to-back aces, and the Mustangs took a 23-18 lead following a seven-point run.
Alayna Guerrero set Johnson up for a kill to give MSU set point. A block by Dickens and Guerrero secured the third set for the Mustangs, 25-19.
St. Mary's won seven of eight points to take a 12-6 lead in the fourth set. Midwestern never pulled closer than three points. The Rattlers reeled of five-straight points with two kills from Brianna Morris-Worth and one by Dallasstar Johnson to take a 23-15 lead.
Bourne served an ace, and Guerrero assisted Johnson during a three-point run, but Dallasstar Johnson of St. Mary's closed the match with consecutive kills as the Rattlers took the fourth set, 25-18.
St. Mary's hit .234 in the final set and held the Mustangs to a .116 hitting percentage. For the match, the Rattlers outhit MSU, .168 -.118.
Guerrero had 35 of the 42 assists for Midwestern State, and the Mustangs had 89 digs. Guerrero and Bourne each had 19,
Taygon Jones added 18 and Johnson had 13 for Midwestern State. The Mustangs also had 10 team blocks.
Midwestern State host a match for the first time in 20 days as UT Permian Basin visits D.L. Ligon Coliseum Friday at 6 p.m.
--MSUMustangs.com--
