Box Score STEPHENVILLE, Texas – The St. Edward's volleyball team took on a tough Tarleton State opponent Friday night as they fell in three sets, 24-26, 16-25, and 22-25.
 
In the first set, Tarleton State (17-5) quickly jumped to an early 9-5 lead before a kill from COURTNEY TREVINO sparked a 5-1 run to tie the set up 10-10. The two teams continued to trade leads throughout the set without either team able to put together a long rally. At set point for the Texanns, 24-23, another kill from Trevino kept St. Edward's (11-7) hopes alive before two hitting errors from the Hilltoppers gave Tarleton the set, 26-24.
 
Set two played a similar tone with the two teams going point-for-point early on. Up by one, 4-3, the Texanns' Katie Covell sparked a long 11-3 run for Tarleton State to give them an overwhelming 15-6 lead over St. Edward's. Trevino produced another kill that looked for an answer to the Texanns rally, but was shut down by the Tarleton State defense. The lead proved too much for the Hilltoppers as the Texanns went on to win, 25-16.
 
Hoping to extend the match, Trevino and MARY KOEHLER had back-to-back kills to swing the momentum towards St. Edward's in the third set. Tarleton State was relentless and came back with a strong offense. The Hilltoppers did not give up as the teams exchanged leads keeping the set close. With the set tied for the final time at 20-20, two kills and a Hilltopper error gave the 23-20 advantage to the Texanns. St. Edward's defense pressured two errors from Tarleton State to bring the set within one, 23-22. After a quick regroup for the Texanns they finished strong taking the final set, 25-22.
 
Leaders for the Hilltoppers were Trevino and Koehler with 15 and 10 kills, respectively. MARY MCNAMARA finished with 24 assists and nine digs with LOREN KELLY following suit with 13 assists. MICHELLE HUNDT tallied a team high 19 digs in the match.
 
The Hilltoppers will be back in action Thursday to take on McMurry on the Hilltop. The match is set for 7 p.m. Live Stats and video will be available on the Hilltopper Athletic Website.