AUSTIN, Texas – St. Edward's University Volleyball closed the 2015 Hilltopper Classic with a 3-1 win over the Franklin Pierce Ravens on Saturday, improving its record to 2-2 this season.
Sophomore outside-hitter
KATIE MARTIN continued her brilliant play with a double-double, registering 14 digs and 22 kills while hitting .315. The setter duo of
JACLYN BILLIE and
JULIA HARTLEY also posted a double-double apiece. Billie collected 27 assists and 11 digs while Hartley add 19 and 10.
"We showed moments of absolute brilliance but are still dealing with some inconsistency yet," said head coach Mary DeJute after the win. "Franklin Pierce is a good, solid team and we did some stuff that I was really proud of. Katie (Martin) has done a fantastic job and she is only sophomore, leading everybody. I am really proud of her. As a team, we fight and we do not give up, that is nice to see."
In game one the Hilltoppers and Ravens traded points, back and forth, battling for the lead. Neither team led by more the four points at any time. At 20-19 St. Edward's scored on three straight serves from
MORGAN BECKHAM to make it 23-19, but FPU's Sarah McHugh led a rally for the Ravens to take the set 25-23.
St. Edward's came out with fire in game two, jumping to a quick 5-0 behind the serve of Billie, and kills from
MADELYN PASHIBIN and Martin. A service ace from Beckham extended the Hilltopper lead to seven, and they never looked back, taking the set, 25-18.
In sets three and four, the Ravens minimized their early deficit and kept the score close, but attacking errors and a disciplined Topper defense allowed the home team to pull away, winning 25-22 and 25-20 to take the match.
In addition to the trio of double-double performances,
ALEXA MCANDREW and
HANNAH RAUCH added 13 kills and 12 kills, respectively. Pashibin posted an efficient attack, hitting .500 with seven kills of her own. Beckham led the defense with 24 digs and as a team the Hilltoppers hit .245 with four service aces and six blocks.
Coach DeJute and her team open the road and conference portions of their schedule next, traveling to Goodwell, Oklahoma on Thursday, September 9 to face Heartland Conference foe, Panhandle State. St. Edward's will then travel to Colorado for the Steel and Silver Volleyball Classic, September 10-12.
Fans can follow the Hilltoppers on Twitter (@SEUVBall), Facebook (St. Edward's University Volleyball), and at GoHilltoppers.com.
