LAREDO, Texas – Texas A&M International volleyball opened its senior weekend on a positive note, defeating the St. Mary's Rattlers in a five set thriller, 3-2.
 
The Dustdevils (4-17, 4-10 LSC) and Rattlers (13-8, 7-7 LSC) played as even and exciting of a match you will see.
 
Set one went in favor of TAMIU by a final score of 25-22. The Dustdevils jumped ahead by four points early, 9-5, but St. Mary's stormed back to make the score 14-11 on a 9-2 run. The Dustdevils didn't buckle, using a 9-2 run of their own to take a 20-16 lead. The Rattlers ultimately tied the set at 21-21, but it was TAMIU taking four of the last five points to seal the set win.
 
Sets two and three ultimately went in favor of St. Mary's by scores of 26-24 and 25-23. Set two was completely even, as neither team led by more than three points at any time. The Rattlers did hold a 24-21 lead, but the Dustdevils charged back to tie it 24-24 before St. Mary's closed the set.
 
In set three's 25-23 Rattler victory, TAMIU held a 15-11 lead halfway through, but St. Mary's reeled off eight straight points to take a 19-15 lead that then saw the teams alternate points to 24-20. The Dustdevils again fought to the end, trimming the lead to 24-23 before the Rattlers closed the set.
 
Trailing 2-1, set four was again much of the same, a back-and-forth match with neither team leading by more than three points. Up 18-16 late in the set, TAMIU allowed a 4-0 St. Mary's run to fall behind 20-18. The Dustdevils however reeled off six straight points to take a 24-20 lead and would force a deciding fifth set, winning 25-22.
 
Set five saw the points bounce between the teams early with the Rattlers leading 6-5. TAMIU then used a 4-0 run to open a 9-6 lead, before St. Mary's cut the set to 9-8. The Dustdevils then hit on all cylinders, using a 6-0 run to close out the Rattlers with a 15-11 set five victory.
 
Senior Mackenzie Catalina placed herself in sole possession of second place all-time in TAMIU history for kills with 23. She needs just six kills to becoming the all-time leader in kills for the program.
 
Junior Hannah Thompson caught fire with 17 kills and sophomore Yaretzi Ortiz also had double figures with 10.
 
Four Dustdevils had 10 or more kills, with Catalina leading the way with 29, sophomore Daniela Sandoval having 23, graduate transfer Melanie Arenas with 13 and senior Maison Kosse with 11.
 
Kosse also closed the gap on a record herself. Needing just 59 assists to be only the fourth Dustdevil in program history to eclipse 2,000, she reeled off 55 to set her career high in a single game.
 
TAMIU must take the momentous victory into Senior Day tomorrow afternoon as it looks to continue to keep its hopes for the LSC Tournament alive. St. Edward's is the Senior Day opponent with the match beginning at 1 p.m. Immediately following, the Dustdevils will recognize nine seniors.