PORTALES, N.M. – Three different St. Edward's volleyball players totaled eight kills, and
LOURDES GOMEZ led the team with 12.5 total points to lead the Hilltoppers to a 3-0 victory over Cameron, winning 25-19, 25-20, 25-20.
"I'm proud of our team and how they served under pressure. The pieces are starting to come together offensively, and our new kids are learning how to manage their game based on different situations," St. Edward's Head Volleyball Coach Jared Te'o says. "Cameron has some dynamic new faces, and they made us earn points after 20 each set."
St. Edward's led from start to finish in the first set, getting four kills from
CORA YOUNG and three each from
CASSIDY COLE and Gomez, posting a .333 hitting percentage.
The second set went back and forth early on until the Hilltoppers reeled off a 6-0 run to turn a 9-9 tie into a 15-9 advantage behind
ADDY BADLEY and Cole's 1-2 punch. Cameron battled back within one, but St. Edward's utilized a balanced attack, with four Hilltoppers recording at least three kills in the set.
Gomez sparked the Hilltoppers with four aces in the third set, including three consecutive aces, to lead St. Edward's to an 8-0 lead.
KELLI FORDING added four kills in the set, and Young was in on two block assists, teaming with
LANDRY BAUGHMAN and Badley, as St. Edward's closed out the match.
Baughman, Fording, and Cole each had eight kills, with Cole posting a scorching .545 hitting percentage and two block assists. Gomez added seven kills with five aces, a block assist, and nine digs in a solid all-around game.
SARAH KONOVODOFF led the team with 13 digs,
JORDAN CHAPMAN posted 19 assists, and Young had six kills on a .385 clip with three block assists and a solo block. St. Edward's finished with a .304 hitting percentage, marking the second consecutive time the team set a season-high. Paris Patterson led Cameron with nine kills, and the Aggies hit .124 as a team.
St. Edward's improves to 3-7, dropping Cameron to 3-8. The Hilltoppers will play host Eastern New Mexico in a second match at 7:00 p.m.
