LAREDO, Texas – Only 150 miles separate St. Mary's and Texas A&M International, but on Saturday, it was 38 points that served as the difference at the TAMIU Kinesiology and Convocation Building. The Rattlers defeated TAMIU, 3-0 (25-7, 25-14, 25-16), as they improved to 8-6 in the Heartland Conference.

The Dustdevils fell to 1-13 in conference play and 2-21 overall.

In the sweep, it was a slumping attack that doomed the Dustdevils. As a team, TAMIU delivered a -0.17 hitting percentage, despite senior captain Miranda Pratt's eight points (8 kills) and Alex Ciszek's 7.5 points (7 kills, 1 block).

Only Ciszek (.150) and Pratt (.130) registered hitting percentages in the positive numerical sector.

Tierney Bannon-Coad (5 kills, 5 points) and Paige Criss (2 kills, 2 points) were the only other Dustdevils with more than a point scored in the match.

Lizzie Prieto again led the team with her 22 assists, as the Dustdevils set up only 23 total attacks. Ciszek holds the lone other assist. The 5-foot-8 inch sophomore now carries 687 assists on the year to lead the team, and 399 in the Heartland Conference to sit in second place.

Senior libero Desiree Ortiz led the Dustdevils with 21 of the team's 55 digs, while Sophia Quniones (9), Bannon-Coad (8) and Prieto (5) each contributed to the total.

The Dustdevils will close their season with five games remaining in 2013 – three at home versus Texas A&M-Commerce (Nov. 7, 7 p.m.), Oklahoma Panhandle State (Nov. 8, 7 p.m.) and Newman (Nov. 9, noon) and a pair on the road at Arkansas-Fort Smith (Nov. 14, 7 p.m.) and Dallas Baptist (Nov. 16, noon).