FORT SMITH, Ark. – St. Edward's volleyball was more than up to the challenge, hitting the road to defeat UAFS on their home court in the first round of the Lone Star Conference Championship Tuesday.
 
The Hilltoppers posted an astounding .287 attack percentage with just 14 hitting errors in the three set win. A total of 66 digs and five aces added to the dominant win.
 
It was a tight set one to start the match, but a late kill by JILLIENNE CONNELL got the Hilltoppers rolling in the right direction, 17-15, and SEU closed out the set 25-21.
 
The Lions came out on a mission in set two, going on a huge 7-0 run to start the set. The Hilltoppers were unfazed, steadily climbing their way back into the set, eventually tying and then taking the lead 22-21 on back-to-back kills by CAROLINE SWAN.
 
St. Edward's was able to complete the comeback and win the set 25-23.
 
SEU rode the momentum straight into the third set, leading by eight points, 12-4, before going up by as many as 11, 20-9. With the win never in doubt, the Hilltoppers took care of the rest to close out the set 25-17 and win the match 3-0.
 
KAITLYN KRAFKA led offensively with 15 kills and a .333 attack percentage. MAYA SMALLS added 11 kills while Swan posted ten kills. EMILY TRAN had 47 assists and 11 digs while SARAH KONOVODOFF led defensively with 18 digs.
 
The Hilltoppers improve to 14-11 on the year and head to San Angelo to continue their run through the postseason, facing #2 seed UT Tyler on Thursday at 2:30 pm.