AUSTIN, Texas – St. Edward's volleyball improved each set but couldn't overcome the UT-Tyler Patriots in a three-set loss, falling 25-17, 25-18, 27-25. 
 
The Hilltoppers finished with their second-least efficient outing of the season, hitting just .155 as a team while allowing the second-highest opponent hitting percentage of the year at .304. 
 
Kota Hartman totaled seven kills on 12 attacks with no errors for a .583 hitting percentage in the first set, and Makhai Lewis added three on four kills with an error, leading a team-wide .484 hitting percentage in the set. CORA YOUNG countered with four kills on five attacks. 
 
St. Edward's struggled to puncture the UT-Tyler defense in the second set, getting four kills on 15 attacks from MIA CLAY and two from Kat Neile and Young. Hartman continued a strong match with five of her team's 20 kills in the set. 
 
The Hilltopper front row strung some defensive plays together at the net, totaling six blocks led by Young's four block assists. However, Jackie Velzis and Dakota Rogers-Hurtado had five kills each on .333 and .444 hitting to close out the match. 
 
Clay posted a team-high eight kills, Neille added seven, and Young led the team with 9.5 points, producing four kills, two aces, five block assists, and a solo block. ALTHEA MORRIS had 27 assists, and GISELLE OJEDA had 10 digs. Hartman led three Patriots in double-digit kills with 15 on .256 hitting. 
 
St. Edward's drops to 9-8 with a 1-5 conference record. The Hilltoppers will travel next weekend for matches against Midwestern State and Texas Woman's University on Friday and Saturday.