Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

AUSTIN, Texas – The St. Edward's volleyball team split on opening day of the Hilltopper-Rattler Classic on Friday defeating Abilene Christian in four sets, 25-13, 5-13, 24-26, and 25-17 in the afternoon, then falling to Colorado State-Pueblo in five sets, 25-20, 25-23, 15-25, 22-25, and 15-10.

In the first set against Abilene Christian (0-1), the Hilltoppers came out strong with a commanding 7-2 run sparked by three St. Edward's service aces. The Wildcats would try to lessen the lead but with the Hilltoppers up 12-5, a kill by MARY KOEHLER would start an 8-2 rally to put them ahead 20-7. The lead proved too much for Abilene Christian as St. Edward's (1-1) coasted to take the set 25-13.

The Wildcats responded and jumped on the board early with a service ace by Jennie Loerch but was shut down as another kill and service ace by Koehler allowed for a 5-1 run putting the Hilltoppers up 5-2. The two teams would continue to battle back and forth with St. Edward's slowly gaining momentum. Up in the set 20-13, two kills by Hilltopper ELISSA STANTON helped St. Edward's to a final five-point run to end the set, 25-13.

Abilene Christian would not go down easily keeping up with the Hilltoppers point-for-point early in the third set. St. Edward's found themselves down at 15-13 as another kill by Stanton would spark a four-point run to put the Hilltoppers ahead for the first time in the set. The Wildcats answered back and a late rally by St. Edward's would prove to not be in time as Abilene Christian went on the win the set, 26-24.

In the final set the Hilltoppers would jump to a strong lead of 10-4 with COURTNEY TREVINO and MEREDITH BARD each having two kills in the run. The two teams traded short rallies as a service ace by LOREN KELLY late in the set, 20-15, helped St. Edward's finish strong to win the final set 25-17.

Leaders for the Hilltoppers were Trevino with 16 kills and Koehler with four service aces, eight kills, and 12 digs. MARY MCNAMARA  tallied 24 assists with four service aces and MICHELLE HUNDT contributed 36 digs.

In their second match of the day, St. Edward's fell to Colorado State-Pueblo (1-0) in a close five-set battle.

McNamara started off the first set of the match with another service ace as well as four Thunderwolf errors to put the Hilltoppers up 6-0. Colorado State-Pueblo would slowly start to pick away at the St. Edward's lead but the Hilltoppers capitalized on numerous errors committed by the Thunderwolves and would go on to win the set, 25-20.

St. Edward's looked to carry that momentum into the second set but this time Colorado State-Pueblo held the Hilltoppers to short rallies. The two teams exchanged leads throughout the set tying the set for the last time at 23-23. A Thunderwolf service error and kill by Trevino put the second set away, 25-23.

Colorado State-Pueblo responded in the third set, taking advantage of three errors by St. Edward's to put them ahead 5-0. With the Thunderwolves up 9-4, the Hilltoppers were unable to lessen the deficit as another rally by Colorado State-Pueblo put them further ahead, 14-4. The Thunderwolves would go on the win the set, 25-15.

A similar story and fate fell upon St. Edward's in the fourth set as Colorado State-Pueblo was able to restrain the Hilltoppers from long rallies. In doing so the two teams battle back and forth for much of the set with the Thunderwolves winning the set, 25-22.

In the final set St. Edward's hoped to claim the match jumping to an early 4-1 lead led by kills from Trevino and HANNAH RAUCH. Behind in the set, 7-4, Colorado State-Pueblo chipped away at the Hilltopper lead with an 8-1 run to put them ahead 12-8. St. Edward's answered back with back-to-back kills by Rauch and Ale'tra Ware before the Thunderwolves would close out the set with three kills of their own to win the set, 15-10.

For the Hilltoppers Trevino picked up her first double-double of the season with 13 kills and 11 digs. Bard tallied 10 kills with McNamara with 33 assists. Hundt would finish with 35 digs.

Colorado State-Pueblo's leaders were Angela McAdams with 16 kills and Kacy Griffin with 57 assists.

St. Edward's will return to action in the final day of the Hilltopper-Rattler Classic Saturday afternoon in the Recreation and Convocation Center as they face off against Midwestern State at 11 a.m. and then finish the tournament against Angelo State at 7 p.m.