DALLAS, Texas – Tuesday marked the end of a grueling three-game road trip for St. Edward's University Volleyball as the Hilltoppers dropped a five-set thriller to Dallas Baptist.
 
After facing the top three teams in the Heartland Conference including: Newman (2^nd), Arkansas Fort Smith (1^st) and Dallas Baptist (3^rd), the Toppers sit 4-10 overall and 2-4 in the conference. DBU moves to 7-4 and 4-2.
 
Tuesday night's match was highlighted by a complete team effort with MIKAYLA GRILL and KATIE MARTIN providing 15 kills each, while MADELYN PASHIBIN and TABITHA ELDER teamed up to register eight blocks. AVALON FRANTZ posted a career high in assists with 25, and MORGAN BECKHAM also had a career best with 27 digs.
 
"Tonight was truly a hard-fought loss that featured tremendous team blocking and effort as a whole," said head coach Mary DeJute. "Tabitha had a solid offensive match and her blocks were great momentum changers. If our offense had clicked in a different gear we would have had a different outcome. I am very excited for the near future of this team."
 
The night opened with a back-and-forth battle in game one as the Hilltoppers stayed with the Patriots for the first 23 points. However, a 7-2 run by Dallas Baptist put the Toppers in deficit they could not overcome, and set one would go to the home team, 25-19.
 
In set two St. Edward's came out firing, jumping to an early 5-1 lead. The Patriots forced their way back into the game, taking advantage of a Hilltopper service error and attacking error. Both teams would trade points until a five-point run from Dallas Baptist blew the game open, putting the visitors in a 17-11 hole. A clutch kill from the veteran-hitter Elder pulled the Toppers within four, and six-point run of their own helped St. Edward's surge to a 25-22 win.
 
DeJute and her team carried their momentum from the win into game three, taking a 7-3 lead early. However, home-court advantage took over and the Patriots would race to a 25-18 win and 2-1 advantage in sets.
 
In set four no team led by more than three points, and the lead would be exchanged four times before a kill from Elder gave the Hilltoppers a 23-22 lead. The Patriots would do their best to clinch the match, but an attacking error on the home team and a kill from Martin gave St. Edward's a 26-24 victory, guaranteeing a fifth set.
 
Odds appeared to be in the Toppers favor in the deciding game as they took an early four-point lead. However, it was not meant to be as Dallas Baptist surged past the Hilltoppers and clinched the match, 15-13.
 
The volleyball team returns home for its next action this Friday against Tarleton State in a nonconference affair. First serve is set for 7 p.m. inside the Recreation and Convocation Center. For fans who cannot attend, live stats and video will be available at GoHilltoppers.com with updates also available on Twitter at @SEUVBall.