Box Score

ODESSA, Texas – The St. Edward's volleyball team added another to its win column as they defeated UT-Permian Basin Saturday afternoon in four sets, 25-9, 30-28, 20-25, and 25-14 at the Falcon Dome.

In the first set, St. Edward's (8-4, 4-2 HC) and UT-Permian Basin (5-9, 2-5 HC) exchanged kills tying the set for the last time at 4-4. Up by two, 7-5, a kill from Hilltopper REBECCA SCHNABEL started a short 3-1 run giving St. Edward's a comfortable lead, 10-6. The Hilltoppers continued to extend their lead with MEREDITH BARD leading the offense tallying seven kills for the set as St. Edward's would cruise to a 25-9 victory in set one.

The Falcons would not give up easily showing up early in the second set going point-for-point with the Hilltoppers. Down by three, 7-4, a kill and service ace by COURTNEY TREVINO followed by a kill from HANNAH RAUCH hoped to repeat the first set rally, but UT-Permian Basin would answer back to remain in the set. At 13-10, Bard came through for St. Edward's with another kill to spark 6-2 run to put the Hilltoppers ahead, 16-15. The Falcons responded with a short rally of their own to regain the lead, 18-16. Trevino, Rauch, and ELISSA STANTON looked to start the offense with five back-to-back kills for the Hilltoppers to put them up, 21-18. The two teams would go back and forth with St. Edward's taking advantage of errors by the Falcons to take the set, 30-28.

The Hilltoppers started the third set strong, claiming the first three points with UT-Permian Basin feeling the pressure. The Falcons were relentless keeping St. Edward's to two-point runs throughout the set allowing UT-Permian Basin to slowly gain the lead. Down by one, 14-13, the Falcons found the rally they needed putting up five unanswered points, putting the Hilltoppers further from their goal. UT-Permian Basin would go on to win the set, 25-20.

MARY MCNAMARA started the fourth set with a service ace to maintain their momentum as the Hilltoppers pressed on to an early 7-2 lead. The Falcons hoped a kill would stop the Hilltopper offense, but was shut down as another kill from Trevino sparked an 8-1 run to give St. Edward's a commanding lead, 16-4. Down by 11, 20-9, UT-Permian Basin came up with a short four-point rally to lessen the Hilltopper lead, 20-13. The Hilltoppers were not fazed as a Falcon error and kills from Bard, Stanton, and Trevino closed out the set, 25-14.

The offense was led by Bard and Trevino who finished with 15 and 13 kills, respectively. McNamara collected a double-double with 12 digs and 26 assists, and MICHELLE HUNDT tallied 36 digs.

St. Edward's will return to the Hilltop Wednesday to take on Southwestern at 7 p.m. at the Recreation and Convocation Center.