AUSTIN, Texas – Junior outside hitter MARY KOEHLER tallied 12 of her team-high 14 kills in the final two sets to lead St. Edward's to a 3-0 sweep of Heartland Conference foe Newman Thursday evening at the Recreation and Convocation Center. The Hilltoppers downed the Jets, 25-21, 25-22, 25-22.
 
St. Edward's (3-8, 1-2 HC) started the match on a 9-2 run keyed by service aces from Koehler and ELISSA STANTON. Newman (4-5, 1-3 HC) would battle back to make the score, 10-5, but the Hilltoppers won five of the next six points to take a 15-6 lead. St. Edward's held a comfortable 21-14 advantage, but Newman got four kills from Ashley Gonzalez to keep the Jets close. It was not enough as the Hilltoppers took the first set, 25-21.
 
In the second set, St. Edward's started strong once more, taking an 8-2 lead. Koehler and Stanton each had service aces once again to lead the way. St. Edward's held a 23-18 lead, but three-straight points by Newman, brought the Jets within, 23-21. After a St. Edward's timeout, the Hilltoppers got a kill from KELLY JIMENEZ and a service error by the Jets to take the set, 25-22.
 
It was Newman who took the early lead in set three, jumping to a 5-2 lead thanks to three attack errors by the Hilltoppers. That is when Koehler would take over. The junior produced five kills to lead St. Edward's to an 11-4 run to give the home team a 13-9 advantage. Newman would cut the Hilltopper lead to 19-18 and force St. Edward's into a timeout. Out of the break, Koehler produced two more kills as St. Edward's won six of the last 10 points to take the decisive set, 25-22, and the match.
 
Koehler would hit at a .406 clip to lead St. Edward's to its second-highest team hitting percentage of the season at .235. They hit .267 as a team in the opening match of the season against Merrimack. HANNAH RAUCH was second on the team with nine kills. The Hilltoppers were led in assists by AMY JONES with 30. ASHLEY RAPPAPORT led the Hilltoppers with 18 digs. St. Edward's registered seven blocks, with Rauch leading the way with five.
 
St. Edward's will be back in action Saturday when they host Heartland Conference rival Panhandle State. First-serve is set for noon at the Recreation and Convocation Center in Austin, Texas. Live video and stats will be available on the Hilltopper Athletic Website.