Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

DENTON, Texas – St. Edward's started each of Saturday's matches at the SpringHill Suites Invitational hosted by Texas Woman's University strong but dropped sets late to fall 3-2 to Southwestern Oklahoma and Texas Woman's.

MATCH 1: ST. EDWARD'S 2 – SOUTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA 3

St. Edward's offense was firing on all cylinders in the first three sets, gaining strength with each set played. SEU started hitting .154 in the first set and pulled out the win 25-21 and posted a .245 attack percentage in the second set, taking that one as well 25-22.

Despite posting a .298 attack percentage in the third set, Southwestern Oklahoma snagged the win 25-22. An extended fourth set again fell to the Bulldogs as the Hilltoppers hit just .089.

Southwestern Oklahoma shot out to start the fifth set, 6-1, and led the rest of the way to hand SEU their first loss of the season.

ALEXA MCANDREW led with 20 kills while MORGAN BECKHAM had an impressive 32 digs. SEU posted six blocks in the match including four from LAURA DOOCY and three from CAMILLE DEDEAUX.

MATCH 2: ST. EDWARD'S 2 – TEXAS WOMAN'S 3

For the fourth straight match the Hilltoppers took set one, winning 25-17. The teams then traded sets with Texas Woman's winning the second set 25-21 and SEU taking the third 25-17.

Neither team was able to pull away in the fourth set until MADISON HEALD served two points including an ace to put St. Edward's on top 18-16. Texas Woman's refused to go quietly as they put together a four-point run to take the lead 22-21 and then closed the set on a four-point run to steal the win 26-24.

The battled continued into the fifth set with teams trading points until TWU pulled off another 4-0 run to lead 9-6. SEU was unable to turn things around, falling 15-12.

KATE HENDRIX and MIKAYLA PARKER were outstanding with 13 and 10 kills, respectively, with Parker hitting an impressive .421. Julia Harley posted 25 assists in the loss while Beckham had 30 digs. NICOLE PETERS was dominant at the net with 12 blocks.

St. Edward's falls to 2-2 on the year and come home for the first time this season, hosting the 2018 Hilltopper Classic beginning on Friday at 11 am against CSU-Pueblo.