AUSTIN, Texas – St. Edward's volleyball was resilient in overcoming several slow starts but couldn't quite finish in a five-set loss to Texas A&M International in the Lone Star Conference opener. 
 
MIA CLAY led St. Edward's with 19 kills and two block assists but wasn't her usual efficient self, struggling with hitting errors early before catching fire late. 
 
St. Edward's fell behind 8-3 in the first set, with Texas A&M International bottling up the Hilltoppers' outsides. Setter ALTHEA MORRIS loosened the defense by finding middle CORA YOUNG for four kills on five attacks, and KELLI FORDING broke through for five kills on a .333 clip in a 28-26 win. 
 
Texas A&M International got early leads in the following two sets and pulled away for 25-21 wins to take a 2-1 advantage. The Dustdevils hit .371 in the second set, led by a perfect 6-for-6 from Anna Ligart. The Hilltoppers only managed six kills on a negative hitting percentage in the third set but got a spark from KAYLEN LEMBCKE off the bench with three block assists in St. Edward's five blocks for the set. 
 
JORDAN CHAPMAN set the tone in the fourth set with three service aces. Clay came to life with five kills on a .250 clip, and the front row posted five more blocks to tie the match with a 25-19 win. 
 
Clay had four kills on five attacks with an error in the final set, but Texas A&M International hit .524 as a team to clinch the match with a 15-13 win. 
 
Addey Badley added nine kills on .400 hitting, and Young had eight kills on a .438 clip with five block assists and a solo block. Morris totaled 50 assists, and BEA ANGELES led St. Edward's with 16 digs. 
 
St. Edward's drops to 8-4 with the loss. On Friday, the Hilltoppers will travel to Alpine, Texas, to play conference newcomer Sul Ross State at 6:00 p.m.