PORTALES, N.M. – St. Edward's volleyball opened the Lone Star Conference Crossover with a 3-0 sweep over Western New Mexico University, winning 25-15, 25-15, 25-16. 
 
'The team was locked in from the very start," St. Edward's Head Coach Jared Te'o says. "Our middles had a great match, and a big part of that was due to our passing and setters."
 
The Hilltoppers utilized a balanced attack set by JORDAN CHAPMAN (18 assists) and NATALIA WALLS (11 assists), along with a stifling defensive performance to nearly double Western New Mexico in kills (41-23) and limit the Mustangs to a .050 hitting percentage. 
 
St. Edward's and Western New Mexico had three early ties and a lead change until the Hilltoppers broke open a 7-7 tie with a 5-0 run and never looked back or trailed the rest of the way. 
 
DELANEY GREGORY and LANDRY BAUGHMAN totaled eight kills each, while CORA YOUNG and KELLI FORDING put down seven apiece. Young was the Hilltoppers' most efficient option, with a .538 hitting percentage. AUDREY QUESNEL added five assists on a .455 hitting percentage. 
 
SARAH KONOVODOFF led the defense with 15 digs, while Walls and Gregory had ten each. The Hilltopper defense limited Western Mexico to under .100 hitting in all three sets, including a -.032 hitting percentage in the second set. The Hilltoppers' .248 team hitting percentage is the highest of the season so far. Chapman and Konovodoff recorded two aces each. 
 
The win is St. Edward's fourth-consecutive three-set win over Western New Mexico. The Hilltoppers improve to 2-7 and will play tomorrow against Cameron and Eastern New Mexico at 3 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.