PANTHERS DECLAWED

San Marcos kicked off the 2023 season off right , as the Rattlers defeated the Pflugerville Panthers 3-1 (25-27, 25-20, 25-16, 25-21) at the Snake Pit.

Though Head Coach Megann Ollett said she was happy to start the season off with a victory, the Rattlers still have room for improvement.

“This highlighted some things we need to work on,” Ollett said. “But I felt that I saw some growth from the girls by the way they came and worked together. So it’s exciting to see. … We definitely have some stuff to work on, so it’s better now than later.”

San Marcos got off to a fast start, taking a 8-2 lead in the first set.

But a Panthers 7-1 run soon had the game all tied up 9-9.

The two teams fought back and forth, before finding themselves all tied up again at 20-20.

A 4-0 run by Pflugerville had the Panthers at set point, before the Rattlers responded with a 4-0 run of their own to tie the game up at 24-24.

After being tied up at 25-25, Pflugerville took advantage of a San Marcos error, en route to taking the first set at 27-25.

The second set was an exciting back and forth battle, as both teams found themselves tied up at 13-13.

However, the Rattlers rolled to a 5-0 run, to take a commanding 1813 lead.

The run was pivotal, as San Marcos failed to relinquish the lead, taking the second set at 25-20.

In the pivotal third set, the Rattlers went on a brief 4-0 run, after being tied up at 3-3.

The Rattlers refused to give up the lead once more, as San Marcos rolled to a third set victory over Pflugerville, 25-16.

The fourth set saw both San Marcos and Pflugerville fight furiously, while trading the lead back and forth.

The Panthers went on a 4-0 run after leading 1312, to take a commanding 17-12 lead.

However, San Marcos battled back, and outscored Pflugerville 8-3, to tie the game up at 20-20.

Using a 9-1 run, the Rattlers defeated the Panthers, 25-21, in the fourth set, to take the season opener.

For Ollett, it was the Rattlers' ability to rally around each other, despite the errors, that was the key to the victory.

“That is going to be their key,” Ollett said. “Being gritty and disciplined, while coming together to put those pieces together, and playing for each other. It was nice to see them work through those moments together.”

San Marcos will look to continue their momentum this weekend, as the Rattlers make the long trip out to Houston to participate in the Cypress Fairbanks ISD & Katy ISD Volleyball Tournament.

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cmcwilliams@sanmarcosrecord.com Twitter: @ColtonBMc