AUSTIN – A few tweaks sparked a more balanced attack for the St. Edward's Hilltoppers volleyball team in a three-set win (25-13, 25-20, 25-20) over the Western New Mexico Mustangs. 

The Hilltoppers adjusted its system to put more hitters in play and tweaked its rotation with CAROLINE SWAN back in her familiar right side off the bench, playing almost exclusively with reserve setter NATALIA WALLS. 

Swan and Walls checked in together early in the first set and immediately showed great chemistry, helping to spark an 11-4 run to open up a 15-6 lead. The duo connected on a pair of kills in their first stint, and three overall, to open the match with a 25-13 win. Seven different Hilltoppers produced a kill, led by Swan's four on eight attempts, and Walls setting the table with eight assists to help the team to a .333 hitting percentage. 

Western New Mexico regrouped for a more competitive second set behind eight kills from outside hitter Jazmyne Walker. Both teams went back and forth with six ties and four lead changes. With the score tied at 17-17, St. Edward's reeled off an 8-3 run punctuated by back-to-back AUDREY QUESNEL kills assisted by Walls and ESTHER GRUSSING to take the set 25-20. 

The more balanced attack left the Mustangs playing Whac-A-Mole, shutting down Swan in the second set and keeping MAYA SMALLS in check but at the expense of losing track of AUDREY QUESNEL and LOURDES GOMEZ, who combined for seven kills on 11 attacks. 

As the Mustang defense adjusted, Smalls and Swan broke free again in the third set. Smalls produced four kills on nine attacks in the final set–including back-to-back points to give the Hilltoppers a 22-29 lead–all assisted by Grussing. Swan had five kills on nine attacks, all assisted by Walls, including the match clincher. 

Swan finished with a team-high nine kills on a .368 hitting percentage and three block assists. Smalls and Gomez had seven kills each with the former also contributing a pair of block assists. Quesnel added six kills on a .667 clip along with two solo blocks and three block assists. Walls had 17 assists on 30 touches and Grussing added 16 on 50. 

AJANI HODGES helped set the block with a solo block and two block assists, while HALLE SANDERS had a match-high 18 digs and 12 service receptions. SARAH KONOVODOFF added 20 receptions and seven digs. 

St. Edward's improves to 6-13 with a 3-5 conference record. The Hilltoppers will host Angelo State University on Friday, Oct. 14, at 6:00 p.m.