SILVER CITY, N.M. – KELLI FORDING recorded a career-high seven aces and formed a formidable one-two punch up front with MIA CLAY to lead the St. Edward's volleyball team to a 3-0 victory over Western New Mexico to open its westward road trip. 
 
Clay and Fording combined for 22 kills, and the Hilltoppers hit .238 to sweep Western New Mexico in a competitive three-set victory. 
 
The first set went back and forth, with 16 ties and 10 lead changes. The Hilltoppers hit just .030 as a team but got three aces from Fording compared to five service errors for Western New Mexico to win 26-24 and take the lead. 
 
St. Edward's cleaned up its attack in the second set. ALTHEA MORRIS orchestrated an attack that hit .370 with 13 assists, finding Clay and ADDY BADLEY for five kills on eight attacks each, and JORDAN CHAPMAN added three aces to take the second set 25-17. 
 
Jazmyne Walker recorded five kills in the third set to keep the Mustangs close, with the set tied at 18. Fording broke the tie with a kill and recorded back-to-back aces down the stretch as St. Edward's closed the match with a 7-2 run to clinch the victory. 
 
Clay finished with 12 kills on .240 hitting, Fording had ten on .231, and Morris finished with 32 assists. CORA YOUNG recorded three solo blocks and a block assist, and Breanna Heffron had eight digs. St. Edward's improves to 10-14. The Hilltoppers will play Texas Permian Basin on Saturday at 11:00 a.m.