San Marcos sweeps Austin Bowie, Del Valle in Saturday doubleheader

Within a seven-hour timespan, San Marcos won two district matches in a double sweep of Austin Bowie  and  De Valle on Saturday.

The first match was a 3-0 (25-20, 25-20, 25-14) sweep inside the Snake Pit at noon against Austin Bowie (7-7, 5-5 district). With the first set tied at 2-2, San Marcos (9-4, 7-1) used strong, consistent placement serving to go on a seven point run, taking a 9-2 lead. Mixing the hitting attack at all points of the net kept Bowie on its heels. The Lady Bulldogs closed the gap within one at 21-20 but the Lady Rattlers added four points and closed on a big block at net by junior outside hitter Maggie Walsh to take the frame, 25-20.

San Marcos continued to roll up the points in the second set at 11-2, keeping the Lady Bulldogs in check with great net defense and allowing them to over-hit their kills. When Bowie connected on power kills, San Marcos dug out with big time passing. The hosts went on to take the set, 25-20. 

Bowie took a 3-0 lead in the third set before Walsh hit a stellar kill to break the run. The score tied up at 6-6 before Lady Rattles added four points to go up 10-6 and never let up. Sophomore setter Ruby Gordon had a great match, handing out 36 assists, however, she did her best work at the serving line, posting four aces and including consistent, precise short serving in helping to close out the set, 25-14, and match, 3-0.

Walsh led the team with 25 kills. Junior blocker Emery Jones and sophomore outside hitter Qiera Green rejected two shots each. Layla Diaz added eight kills and a team-high 13 digs.

San Marcos defeated Del Valle (0-10, 0-10), 3-0 (25-9, 25-19, 25-14), later that afternoon for the double sweep. Walsh led the team again with 11 kills, followed by Diaz with eight. Senior libero Julia Antu dug out 21 balls and tied with Walsh for a team-best four aces. Walsh also blocked two shots.

The Lady Rattlers head to Austin High on Tuesday to take on the Lady Maroons at 6:30 p.m.