SAN ANTONIO – Freshmen took center stage for University of Arkansas – Fort Smith Volleyball Saturday, with all four putting up career performances in a 19-25, 28-26, 20-25, 25-27 defeat at St. Mary's.

Setter Kendall Schmitz earned her first career start and posted 46 assists and 12 digs for a double-double. Freshmen outside hitter Caelyn Gunn, middle blocker Kaelyn McDonald and defensive specialist Macie Grams all posted career-highs, as well.

Gunn netted 24 kills and 18 digs while hitting .347 while McDonald had 14 kills on a .448 attack percentage with five blocks. Grams collected 14 digs.

Libero Lauren Weber added 23 digs and seven assists.

After dropping the first set, the Lions quickly went up 6-1 in set two. The Rattlers then evened the set and the teams traded blows to 24-24. Each team then held off a set point before the Lions finally broke through having scored four of the final five points capped by a pair of kills by Gunn.

St. Mary's then raced out to early leads in sets three and four. After the Rattlers handily won set three, looked to erase a 9-1 deficit in set four with a pair of 4-0 runs. Two 3-0 runs gave the Lions a 16-14 lead but the Rattlers came back with a 5-0 run of its own.

Trailing 23-19, the Lions weren't going down without a fight, as they battled back with four straight to tie it at 23 as McDonald had two kills and a block. UAFS held off two match points before the Rattlers eventually closed it out.

UAFS will play its final three home matches of the season next week, staring with UT Tyler at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Gayle Kaundart Arena at the Stubblefield Center.