LAS VEGAS, N.M. – KARINA GONZALEZ got her first start as a Hilltopper and made the most of it as the freshman led St. Edward's to victory over Western State in the final game of the IC Bhakta Invitational. Gonzalez pounded out nine kills and had five blocks in a 23-25, 25-15, 25-22, 25-17 decision over Western State. That victory stopped a six-match losing streak for St. Edward's. Earlier in the day, the Hilltoppers fell to New Mexico Highlands, 25-17, 25-22, 27-25.
 
In the final match of the tournament, St. Edward's (2-6) had to play catch-up against Western State (1-7) as the Hilltoppers dropped the first set, 25-17.
 
In the second set, Gonzalez started to turn it on. The middle hitter registered four kills in the Hilltoppers' first eight points for an 8-3 lead. That is as close as the Mountaineers would get as the Hilltoppers coasted to a 25-5 win in the set.
 
Set three saw St. Edward's struggle early on, trailing Western State, 11-4. Six-straight points by the Hilltoppers quickly closed the gap to 11-10. A kill by the Mountaineers late made it 22-19, and forced a timeout by St. Edward's. The Hilltoppers responded with six-consecutive points to take the set. ANNA AYCOCK and JESSICA MORALES both had service aces during the decisive run.
 
St. Edward's held a commanding lead in the fourth set, 20-15, but Western State got back-to-back kills to close the gap, 20-17. Kills from Aycock and KELLY JIMENEZ put the Hilltoppers back in control, then ELISSA STANTON and Aycock combined for two-straight blocks to push the Hilltoppers to victory and break a six-match losing streak.
 
MARY KOEHLER led the Hilltoppers with 13 kills, while Stanton added 10 of her own with a .350 hitting percentage. LOREN KELLY and JACLYN BILLIE finished with 20 and 15 assists, respectively. ASHLEY RAPPAPORT led St. Edward's with 25 digs, while Jimenez registered 15 digs to go along with her three aces and seven kills.
 
In the first match of the day versus tournament host New Mexico Highlands (5-2), St. Edward's got itself in an early 10-4 hole. The Hilltoppers reduced the deficit to five points at 13-8, but the Cowgirls responded with four-straight points to take the biggest lead of the set at 17-8. The home team would cruise from there, trading points with St. Edward's along the way.
 
In the second set, St. Edward's found itself in another early hole at 15-12. Kills by Koehler and Jimenez and a big block from Koehler and TABITHA ELDER led the Hilltoppers to a 5-0 run and a 17-15 lead. The set would be tied at 22-22, and New Mexico Highlands scored the final three points to take a 2-0 set lead.
 
In the third set, both teams fought tooth-and-nail, with neither taking more than a three-point lead at any time. After a kill by HANNAH RAUCH tied the score, 23-23, the Cowgirls would make it to match point twice. Both times, St. Edward's would fight it off with a kill from Kohler and Stanton. However, the Cowgirls got a kill and then an attack error by St. Edward's to take the match.
 
Koehler led the Hilltoppers with 11 kills to go along with her six digs. Both Jimenez and Stanton tallied five kills, while Jimenez added a team-high 17 digs. Billie led the team with 17 assists from her setter position.
 
St. Edward's will be back in action Thursday when they open up Heartland Conference play traveling to Laredo, Texas to take on Texas A&M-International. First-serve is set for 7 p.m. and live stats will be available on the Dustdevil Athletic Website.