AUSTIN, Texas – St. Edward's volleyball was defeated in three sets in the Battle of the Saints, losing to St. Mary's 25-19, 25-17, 25-17. 

The Hilltoppers opened the match on an 8-1 run on a pair of kills from KELLI FORDING, a kill each from LAUREN SCOTT and ADDY BADLEY, a JAIDEN LAVANWAY ace, a pair of St. Mary's attack errors, and an assisted block from Coray Young and Badley. 

St. Mary's made a big run back, getting three kills each from Kelly Swyers and Dallasstar Johnson and taking advantage of five double-touch errors by the Hilltoppers to take the set despite hitting .027. 

Both teams went back and forth to start a second set that featured five lead changes and seven ties, with the last one at 13-13 before St. Mary's reeled off a 13-1 run keyed by Laurene Robinson's five kills on ten attacks in the set. 

The Hilltoppers and Rattlers played even through 13-13 once again in the third set before the Rattlers made another big move, closing on a 12-4 run led by Landri Withers' four kills on seven attacks. 

LOURDES GOMEZ led St. Edward's with eight kills on a .316 hitting percentage to go with an ace and block assist. SARAH KONOVODOFF had 13 digs, JORDAN CHAPMAN contributed three assists, and CORA YOUNG assisted on five blocks and had two solo blocks. 

St. Edward's drips to 7-12 with a 3-4 conference record, while St. Mary's improves to 9-9 and 4-3. The Hilltoppers will travel this weekend to play Western New Mexico on Saturday.