Box Score

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – St. Edward's volleyball team had a comeback win to beat St. Mary's in five sets, 20-25, 19-25, 25-22, 26-24, and 15-12 Saturday afternoon in the Battle of the Saints match.

In the first set both teams exchanged points then with the set tied 2-2 a kill by MEREDITH BARD sparked a four-point run for St. Edward's (4-2, 2-0 HC) to go up in the set, 6-2. St. Mary's (2-4, 0-2 HC) answered back with its own short rallies to regain the lead. With the set tied for the last time at 10-10, the Rattlers took advantage of Hilltopper errors to an 11-3 run extending their lead, 21-13. The lead proved enough for St. Mary's as they went on to win, 25-20.

The Rattlers took the momentum into the second set keeping St. Edward's at a distance throughout the set. St. Mary's strung together timely rallies with the Hilltoppers following closely behind them. Down in the set, 14-6, a kill from St. Edward's ELISSA STANTON hoped to start a comeback but after four points the Rattler defense regained composure with a four-point run of their own. St. Mary's would go on the win the set, 25-19.

For the third set the Hilltoppers needed a win to stay in the match and held off the Rattlers to any long rallies. Up in the set, 13-10, St. Mary's offense fell short committing six hitting errors aiding the 10-3 run for St. Edward's to put them ahead, 20-16. With only five more points needed to keep the match alive, kills from Ale'tra Ware and HANNAH RAUCH gave the Hilltoppers the last push to win 25-22.

In the fourth set St. Mary's claimed the first six points. After a quick timeout St. Edward's regained focus and began to chip away at the Rattler lead. With St. Mary's up 19-16, a kill by REBECCA SCHNABEL sparked a 6-3 rally to tie the set, 22-22. Both teams exchanged kills before an error by St. Mary's followed another kill from Schnabel to force the match to the fifth set. The Hilltoppers won the set, 26-24.

The Rattlers again wasted no time to gain a lead over St. Edward's in the fifth set but was shut down by the Hilltopper offense. Back-to-back kills from Ware and Shannon Wilson added pressure to St. Mary's as they had three errors helping St. Edward's take the lead 5-2. The teams battled back and forth tying the match for the last time at 12-12. Another kill by Ware and offensive miscues for the Rattlers gave the Hilltoppers the win, 15-12.

Leaders for St. Edward's were Ware with 20 kills and MARY MCNAMARA with 43 assists. Rauch and Wilson tallied 11 and 12 kills, respectively as MICHELLE HUNDT collected 31 digs.

For St. Mary's Kelsey Huber had 18 kills and 19 digs, and Jenna Paul finished with 14 kills.

The Hilltoppers will continue on the road Tuesday as they travel to Dallas to take on Dallas Baptist at 7 p.m.