AUSTIN – Long rallies highlighted the St. Edward's volleyball match against Texas A&M International but, ultimately, the Dust Devils were able to hand the Hilltoppers a 3-1 loss.
 
TAMIU built a slight lead to the midpoint of the first set, leading 12-7. The lead was enough to hold off a final run by the Hilltoppers as they pulled within four, but the Dust Devil lead was too much to overcome as SEU dropped the set 25-21.
 
Texas A&M International sprinted to 14 points in the second set, leading 14-5, before SEU got jump started. The Hilltoppers eventually cut the deficit to five, 16-11, but were unable to get any closer, falling 25-16. 
 
Big kills punctuated the outset of the third set as St. Edward's built a five point lead, 16-11. A TAMIU timeout could not stop the SEU run as the Hilltoppers picked right up where they left off to win 25-18. 
 
St. Edward's rolled out to a 4-0 lead in the fourth set but TAMIU rallied back to tie the game 6-6. With the set tied 17-17, SEU rattled off four straight points to take an important lead late. A Dust devil run brought TAMIU back even 21-21. The set remained tight until TAMIU scored the final two points of the set to win 25-23 on a seemingly never-ending rally.
 
MELISSA MCNEIL led with 15 kills as SEU hit .177 as a team. CAROLINE SWAN and LOURDES GOMEZ added ten kills each. NATALIA WALLS led with 33 assists and added 12 digs, as did EMILY TRAN, McNeil and Gomez. Nicole Grant led defensively with 13 digs while MAYA SMALLS posted five block assists.
 
Prior to Tuesday's match, SEU celebrated the contributions of five seniors playing their final home game on the Hilltop, LAURA DOOCY, McNeil, MADISON HEALD, KATARINA MENDEZ and MADDIE MIKSCH.
 
The Hilltoppers drop to 5-6 on the year and 5-6 in Lone Star Conference play. They return to Laredo for their final regular season game, facing Texas A&M International at 5 pm.