AUSTIN, Texas – St. Edward's volleyball opened conference play with its first home game, defeating Midwestern State in three sets (25-17, 25-23, 25-19). 
 
KELLI FORDING led the Hilltoppers with 11 kills on a .267 clip. The freshman outside hitter set the tone at the service line, posting a match-high four of St. Edward's seven aces. Fording and the Hilltoppers utilized the serve to keep Midwestern State off-balance and out of system. 
 
St. Edward's outhit Midwestern State .262 to .032 in the first set, totaling 14 kills with three aces while taking advantage of six attack errors. 
 
Both teams battled in the second set with eight ties and four lead changes, with Fording tying the set at 18 with a kill, followed by two service aces and a setting error off another powerful serve to take a 21-18 lead. The set stayed close at 24-23, but CORA YOUNG and LOURDES GOMEZ blocked Arrianna Fields to take the set and a 2-0 lead. 
 
The Hilltoppers rode the momentum to a start-to-finish lead to take the third set, hitting .395 as a team with five kills on eight attacks and no errors from Fording for a .625 hitting percentage. AUDREY QUESNEL also had a strong closing set with three kills on three attacks and a solo block. 
 
SARAH KONOVODOFF led St. Edward's with 15 digs, JORDAN CHAPMAN and JAIDEN LAVANWAY combined for 23 assists, with Chapman contributing 13 and three kills. The Hilltoppers hit .205 for the match to .121. 
 
St. Edward's improves to 5-8, dropping Midwestern State to 3-10. The Hilltoppers will host Texas Woman's University tomorrow at 2:00 p.m.