Box Score AUSTIN, Texas – MARY KOEHLER pounded out a season-high 20 kills to go along with her 10 digs, but that was not enough as St. Edward's fell in a tight match to Tarleton State, 3-1. The TexAnns bested the Hilltoppers, 32-30, 17-25, 25-21, 26-24.
 
In the first set, both teams traded points as they were tied, 6-6. A service ace by REBECCA SCHNABEL and a kill by Koehler led St. Edward's (7-13) to four-straight points and a 10-6 advantage. Tarleton State (12-8) responded with a 16-6 run to take back the lead, 22-16. The Hilltoppers fought back with an 8-1 run that included two kills from Koehler and service aces by TABITHA ELDER and ASHLEY RAPPAPORT. This gave the home team a 24-23 lead and forced the TexAnns into a timeout. St. Edward's would have two more match points in this marathon set, but eventually fell, 32-30.
 
In the second set, the Hilltoppers came out firing, taking a 14-8 lead. Tarleton State responded with a 7-2 run to bring the score to 16-15, but the St. Edward's offense was too much as they coasted to a 25-17 win. The Hilltoppers hit .400 during the set while Koehler and HANNAH RAUCH combined for 14 kills.
 
Set three saw the TexAnns race out to a 12-6 lead, but the Hilltoppers fought back using a 12-5 run to take an 18-17 advantage. Koehler was clutch during the stretch with two kills and a service ace. The rally was short lived as Tarleton State ended the set on an 8-3 run.
 
In the fourth set, it was St. Edward's who took the early lead, 8-7. The TexAnns used a 7-3 run to take a 14-11 lead. Koehler was at it again, tallying three kills to lead the Hilltoppers on a 10-7 run and knot the score, 21-21. Back-to-back kills by Tarleton State forced the Hilltoppers into a timeout at 23-21. The tables would turn as the TexAnns had two attack errors and Koehler added another kill to make it 24-23. The rally stopped there when Tarleton State got three-straight kills to win the match.
 
Koehler was one short of her career high in kills, which was 21 in 2012. The double-double was her sixth of the season and third in a row. Rauch finished with a season-high 15 kills. KELLY JIMENEZ registered a season-high 33 digs. She had at least eight digs in each set. JACLYN BILLIE also produced a double-double with 24 assists and a career-high 15 digs. LOREN KELLY dished out a team-high 25 assists.
 
St. Edward's will be back in action Thursday when they host Heartland Conference rival St. Mary's. This will be the second installment of the Battle of the Saints. The Rattlers defeated the Hilltoppers in four sets in San Antonio earlier this season. Live video and stats will be available on the Hilltopper Athletic website.