Branch picks up six blocks as Lady Rattlers sweep Crockett

The Lady Rattlers had a rough weekend at the John Turner Classic in Pearland.

The team entered the tournament with a 1-1 record, but left at 3-7. The losses stung, but head coach Michelle Moreno knew her team learned a lot from it.

“We lost more games than we would’ve liked,” Moreno said. “But it was such a learning experience, there was great competition, the sets that we dropped were really tight. And they actually did learn things through each set throughout the tournament and we just kept improving.”

Still, the Lady Rattlers were hungry for a win and saw their opportunity Tuesday night against Crockett at the Snake Pit.

Sophomore setter Julia Antu swatted things off with a 4-0 serving run, including two aces. Her fifth serve sailed too far past the baseline, giving the Lady Cougars their first point. Senior outside hitter Madison Mendez earned a kill on the next play, and making it her turn to serve.

Mendez earned a point off her first serve from a block by junior right side hitter Madison Helbig and senior middle blocker Shyeann Lampkin. She picked up another two points after Crockett couldn’t return her serves. A kill from Lampkin made it four straight for Mendez and gave San Marcos a 9-1 lead.

The Lady Cougars called timeout, hoping to slow Mendez’s momentum. It didn’t. Mendez went on to serve another seven points, making it an 11-0 run. A lift from Antu ended the streak, leaving the Lady Rattlers with a 14-point lead.

“(Mendez) has a good low-trajectory serve, which is harder to track,” Moreno said. “She keeps her composure and keeps that focus. And so, it really helps, she did have a long serving (run) in that first game.”

Moreno said Mendez is currently dealing with a minor injury, and chose to limit the senior’s playing time after the long run. Once Mendez was out, the team turned to its frontline to finish the set.

After scoring back-to-back points, Crockett’s serve was rejected at the net by middle blocker Devin Branch, keeping San Marcos ahead, 20-3. It was the first of many for the senior.

The Lady Cougars dropped the first game, 25-5, and a 5-0 serving run from junior defensive specialist  Julia Gutierrez helped the Lady Rattlers earn a 25-15 victory in the second. Crockett wanted to avoid the sweep, and kept things tight in the third.

They trailed 14-13 before serving it too far and putting the ball back in Gutierrez’s hands. Branch picked up a kill off an assist from Helbig on the next play and a block four points later. 

“I wanted to make sure that we got more aggressive,” Branch said. “So I kept telling girls ‘Let’s do this instead of that. Let’s get more blocks instead of kills. Let’s do much more than we’re supposed to be doing.’ And so they listened and went ahead and did what I told them to.

A setting error from Helbig ended Gutierrez’s second 5-0 run of the night, putting San Marcos ahead, 20-13. Branch stuffed one more attack from the Lady Cougars before the Lady Rattlers completed the sweep, winning the set 25-19. Branch finished the night with six blocks, a career high and one short of the school record.

“I was trying to reach the seven blocks and then I had to get out, so I was like ‘Oh, no!’” Branch said.

“Devin had a good night,” Moreno said. “She’s playing aggressive, and that’s what we wanted to see out of her, so I’m really proud that she’s doing that.”

Branch said that her goal is to rack up 50 blocks this season, including nine in one game — hopefully the next one against Rudder on Thursday at noon at the Bastrop Tournament.