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THE RUNDOWN
AUSTIN, Texas – Katie Martin and Madison McClurg ensured Saturday wasn't their last match as the senior pair combined for 35 kills in a win-or-go-home match that saw St. Edward's University defeat Dallas Baptist 25-18, 25-23, 18-25, 25-19 at the RCC.

With DBU and SEU entering the match at 5-6 in Heartland Conference play, the winner would move on to next week's HC Tournament in Fort Smith Arkansas. SEU jumped out to a two-set lead before DBU extended its season with a win in set three. However, the Hilltoppers rebounded to close the match in set four to keep its season alive.

Martin tied a season-high with 21 kills on a .298 hitting effort while McClurg posted her first double-double of 2017 in the regular-season finale with 14 kills and 11 digs.

The Hilltoppers will be making their 16th appearance in next week's Heartland Conference Tournament; the league began in 1999 and the Hilltoppers have missed the postseason just three times since.


HIGHLIGHTS
• Katie Martin tied a season-high with 21 kills on a .298 hitting percentage; it was the 45th match of her career to have double-digit kills.
• Madison McClurg made the most of senior day with her first double-double of the season and fourth double-double of her career; she collected 14 kills and 11 digs, her first double-double since Oct. 29, 2016 vs. Newman.
• McClurg has 13 career matches with double-digit kills and 10 with double-digit digs.
• Julia Hartley, SEU's active career leader in service aces, had career aces No. 50 and 51 in Saturday's match.
• Morgan Beckham's 20 digs led the Hilltoppers giving the junior 41 career matches with 20 or more.
• Olivia Rome recorded her fourth double-double of the season tying a season-high with 27 assists, and she added a dozen digs.

THEY SAID IT
Senior outside hitter Katie Martin's reaction to the Heartland Conference Tournament …
"It means a lot; it came really close this year, usually we've been in a solid place heading into the conference tournament. But, this year we really had to fight down to the finish and it came down to the very last conference game and it means a lot to pull out this win."

SEU Head Coach Mary DeJute on the Hilltoppers' seniors and advancing to the conference tournament …
"I'm extremely proud of the team. They stuck together, they kept the intensity very, very high. They were very aggressive; kept DBU out of their offensive system very, very well. Pleased, very pleased with what we've done today and how far we've gone. It's exciting to be able to go to the conference tournament again, so I'm looking forward to it, and I'm real proud because the kids deserve it. Katie [Martin] and Maty [McClurg] did a phenomenal job today. Both of them offensively, were very, very strong. Defensively, Maty serve-received well. They just are the glue right now, they stepped things up intensity wise. I'm happy for them, and very, very proud of what they've done and excited to see what they're going to continue to do in the next week.

STAT OF THE GAME I
2 – St. Edward's will advance to the Heartland Conference Tournament for the second time under head coach Mary DeJute.

WHAT'S NEXT
SEU's plays in the Heartland Conference Tournament, hosted by No. 1 seed UAFS in Fort Smith Arkansas. Game times and matchups are to be determined.