AUSTIN – In a match of long runs and even longer rallies, the St. Edward's Hilltoppers volleyball team defeated the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith Lions 3-2 (16-25, 27-25, 26-28, 25-23, 15-6) in a battle of attrition.
The Hilltoppers' front row was solid at the net with 13 blocks paced by AUDREY QUESNEL's six block assists and three solo blocks, while libero SARAH KONOVODOFF led a stifling Hilltoppers back row with 31 of the team's 120 digs.
Arkansas-Fort Smith put the Hilltoppers back on their heels early, opening the match with a 10-3 run. The Lions' attack kept the Hilltoppers off balance and reactive, generating a 43-34 advantage in total attacks, putting down 16 kills on a .256 clip to breeze to a 25-16 win.
St. Edward's fell behind in the first half of the second set, trailing 16-10 after an attack error led to a timeout. However, the Hilltoppers showed resiliency with an 8-2 run to tie the game. MAYA SMALLS and HALLE SANDERS were crucial in the set, producing five kills each on a .333 and .250 hitting percentage to tie the match with a 27-25 win.
The third set was the most contested of the match, with 12 ties and six lead changes, and a second consecutive set ending in extra points. Arkansas-Fort Smith's Reagan Macha and St. Edward's Smalls were spectacular, with Smalls delivering six kills on a .286 hitting percentage and Macha besting that with seven kills on a .333 clip for the 28-26 win.
St. Edward's opened the fourth set on fire, jumping out to a 19-9 lead behind a potent serve that produced four aces and kept the Lions out of system for most of the set. Arkansas-Fort Smith reeled off a 9-0 run sparked by three consecutive kills from Macha and four Hilltopper attack errors. Both teams went back and forth, with the Hilltoppers getting a timely service ace from Konovodoff and Caroline clinching the set with a kill to tie the match and force a fifth set.
The Hilltoppers carried the momentum into a dominant fifth set, hitting .438 while holding the Lions to a negative hitting percentage. An emphatic block by Swan and AUDREY QUESNEL forced Arkansas-Fort Smith into a timeout trailing 4-2.
Another 4-2 run gave the Hilltoppers an 8-4 lead as both teams switched sides of the court. The Hilltoppers showcased a balanced attack, with three different hitters getting at least three kills. Smalls put down back-to-back kills from Grussing to give St. Edward's match point, and Smalls and AJANI HODGES ended the game with a block at the net.
Smalls led the team with 21 kills and three block assists for 23.5 points. Swan added 11 kills and two block assists, and Quesnell contributed 10 kills to go with her work blocking at the net. NATALIA WALLS, Konovodoff, and Quesnel each had two aces.
St. Edward's improves to 7-16 with a 4-8 conference record, dropping Arkansas-Fort Smith to 12-11 with a 4-6 conference record. The Hilltoppers will celebrate their seniors Saturday with a 1:00 p.m. match against Oklahoma Christian.
