The Dallas Baptist Lady Patriot Volleyball Team saw their season come to an end Saturday evening, as they fell to St. Mary's in the Heartland Conference Championship Game, 1-3. With the win, the Rattlers receive the conference's automatic bid and will now advance to the NCAA South Central Regional Tournament.

The Lady Patriots were looking to defend their title having won the championship a year ago, but the Rattlers took the series in four sets, winning 26-24, 18-25, 25-21, and 25-16.

The two teams played down to the wire in the opening set and were tied 23-23, before DBU took a one point advantage off a block from Freshman Krystal Wunderlich and Junior Claire Stephens. However, the Rattlers rallied to score three straight points and take the opening set, 26-24.

In the second, the two teams continued their back and forth play before DBU broke free midway through the set. Tied 10-10, the Lady Patriots used an 8-1 run to take a commanding 18-11 lead. The deficit proved to be too much to overcome for the Rattlers as DBU moved on to the 25-18 victory.

The Rattlers led by as much as nine points in each of the final two sets, sealing their NCAA Tournament berth with a 25-21 win and a 25-16 win.

Sophomore Becky Swann led the Lady Patriots offensively with 14 kills, while Sophomore Christina Steinkruger added another stellar game to her tournament with 13 kills and 16 digs. Junior Kaylyn Frink ended the night with 10 kills and a team-high, 21 digs.