Box Score   AUSTIN, Texas – The St. Edward's volleyball team picked up another Heartland Conference win Saturday afternoon sweeping rivals UT-Permian Basin in three sets, 25-23, 25-23, and 25-18.

In the first set, St. Edward's (14-7, 8-3 HC) found itself down, 3-1 to UT-Permian Basin (12-14, 5-7 HC). Back-to-back kills from MARY KOEHLER, MEREDITH BARD, and ELISSA STANTON pushed the Hilltoppers ahead, 4-3. The Falcons responded quickly with a four-point rally of their own to regain the lead, 7-4. Both teams continued to battle back and forth throughout the set. St. Edward's was able to hold off any long rallies from UT-Permian Basin as they pushed ahead. Down, 22-18, the Falcons made a late comeback led by Melissa Lusk, but was unable to overcome the Hilltopper defense. St. Edward's would take the set on a kill from Koehler to end it, 25-23.

The Hilltopper defense continued to shut down UT-Permian Basin early in the second set as St. Edward's worked their way to a 6-3 lead. The Hilltoppers continued to add points on the board as more hitting miscues from the Falcons gave St. Edward's the advantage. Up by four, 14-10, a kill from Ale'tra Ware sparked a five-point run for St. Edward's. The run was cut short by a kill from Lusk but the lead proved too much for UT-Permian Basin. The Falcons started to chip away at the Hilltopper lead but HANNAH RAUCH ended any chance of a comeback as her kill gave St. Edward's the set, 25-23.

The Hilltoppers continued their momentum into the third set as Rauch and Koehler tallied kills and four errors from UT-Permian Basin pressured an early timeout for the Falcons as St. Edward's went up, 6-0. A kill from Hannah Rebb was not enough for UT-Permian Basin as Bard sparked a 6-1 run for the Hilltoppers to give them a commanding lead, 12-2. The St. Edward's offense kept compiling points as the Falcons slowly made their way back into the set. UT-Permian Basin's efforts looked promising until another kill from Rauch at 24-18 ended the match.

Leaders for St. Edward's were Koehler and Rauch with 15 and 11 kills, respectively. MARY MCNAMARA picked up another double-double on the season as she finished with 23 assists and 14 digs, with MICHELLE HUNDT tallying a team-high 23 digs for the Hilltoppers.

The Falcons were led by Lusk with 13 kills and Jamie Rodell behind her with 11 kills.

St. Edward's will be back in action Tuesday at 7 p.m. to take on Incarnate Word at the Recreation and Convocation Center. Live video and stats will be available on the Hilltopper Athletic Website.