SILVER CITY, N.M. – St. Edward's volleyball was defeated by the Western New Mexico University (WNMU) Mustangs in five sets, losing 25-17, 25-17, 22-25, 19-25, 11-15. 
 
The Hilltoppers opened the match with back-to-back victories, starting with a dominant defensive performance in the first set, limiting Western New Mexico to a -.184 hitting percentage on six kills with 13 errors. 
 
St. Edward's carried the momentum over in the second set, hitting an efficient .438 with a combined nine kills on 12 attacks and one error from Delany Gregory and AUDREY QUESNEL. 
 
The third set featured 16 ties and five lead changes with back-to-back attack errors by St. Edward's clinching WNMU's first win of the night. 
 
Western New Mexico never trailed in the fourth set, where it got six kills on 11 attacks from Jazyme Walker. The Mustangs hit .387 as a team to tie the match at 2-2. 
 
The fifth set was tied at 10-10 until WNMU closed the match out on a 5-1 run, sparked by back-to-back kills from Walker, who finished with 19 kills and 14 digs. Maria Osorio contributed 15 kills on a .367 hitting percentage for the Mustangs. 
 
Gregory led St. Edward's with 13 kills on a .267 hitting percentage. Quesnel had 11 kills, and LAUREN SCOTT added ten kills. SARAH KONOVODOFF had 19 digs, and JORDAN CHAPMAN had 22 assists. 
 
St. Edward's falls to 7-13 with a 3-5 conference record. The Hilltoppers will travel next Friday to play Angelo State at 6 p.m.