Box Score

ABILENE, Texas – The St. Edward's volleyball team came from behind to defeat McMurry Thursday night in five sets, 22-25, 23-25, 25-17, 25-20, and 17-15.

In the first set, St. Edward's (7-5) went toe-to-toe with McMurry (7-4) early on, tying the set 3-3. A short three-point rally by the War Hawks gave them the advantage, 6-3 but the Hilltoppers were relentless and began to inch their way back. Down 6-3, a kill from St. Edward's Ale'tra Ware gave them the three-point run needed to tie the set, 9-9. The two teams traded leads throughout the set, tying for the last time at 22-22. McMurry came through with the final push putting together two kills and a service ace to put the set away, 25-22.

The Hilltoppers responded with vengeance collecting an early 8-3 lead, taking advantage of four War Hawk defensive errors. McMurry would not go down easy, slowly chipping away at St. Edward's lead. The Falcons were able to regain composure and with the help of short rallies, took the lead at 22-20. Two errors by McMurry and a service ace by REBECCA SCHNABEL hoped to be the answer for St. Edward's but the War Hawks capitalized on miscues by the Hilltoppers and won the set, 25-23.

In the third set, St. Edward's jumped to an early 10-5 lead with five Hilltoppers registering kills in the run. Up by three, 10-7, Ware tallied another kill with Schnabel following with a service ace, along with an error by McMurry to give St. Edward's a six point lead, 13-7. The Hilltoppers maintained their lead as they went on to win the set with ease, 25-17.

Looking to take the match to five, St. Edward's was in a must-win situation in set four. After exchanging several points the Hilltoppers found a short 3-1 run sparked by a kill from MEREDITH BARD to put them ahead 6-3. The War Hawks would respond with a rally of their own tying the set up at 8-8. St. Edward's offense kicked in gear holding off McMurry of any more rallies as the Hilltoppers continued to add to their score. Up by one, 18-17, a kill from St. Edward's HANNAH RAUCH started the final 7-3 run to give the Hilltoppers the win, 25-20.

In the final set of the match the War Hawks would not go down without a fight claiming a 6-1 lead from hitting errors by the Hilltoppers. St. Edward's answered back with the aid of miscues from McMurry to come within two, 6-4. The War Hawks tried to extend their lead but the offense of the Hilltoppers kept them in the game. Down by three, 13-10, back-to-back kills from Ware and Bard kept adding pressure to the War Hawks. At 14-13, in favor of McMurry, a kill by COURTNEY TREVINO and two War Hawk errors put St. Edward's in the lead, 16-15. Trevino would register the final point of the match as the Hilltoppers won, 17-15.

For St. Edward's, Bard led the offense with 14 kills as Trevino, Ware, and Rauch followed suit with 12, 11, and 10 respectively. Schnabel finished with three service aces, six kills, and 14 digs.MICHELLE HUNDT tallied 24 digs and MARY MCNAMARA collected 10 digs and 28 assists.

Leaders for McMurry were Kelsey Harkins with 13 kills and M.J. Vickers with 12 kills. Ayssa Garcia collected 33 digs for the War Hawks while Peyton Evans accounted for 39 assists and nine kills.

The Hilltoppers will continue on the road as they travel to Odessa Saturday, to take on UT-Permian Basin at noon. Live stats are available on the Falcon Athletic Website.