AUSTIN, Texas – St. Edward's opened its 50th season with dominant performances from its young front row and a balanced attack orchestrated by its first-year setter to start the Hilltopper Classic with a pair of wins.

St. Edward's 3, Ark.-Monticello 0 (27-25, 25-11, 25-20)
 
The Hilltoppers showcased the depth and versatility of their talent in the season opener, utilizing a balanced attack to sweep Arkansas-Monticello in three sets. 
 
First-year setter ALTHEA MORRIS led a balanced St. Edward's attack, making the offense sing with the aplomb of a master pianist who learned to play all the keys by ear. The former high school All-American recorded 41 assists and orchestrated an attack that recorded 48 kills on a .312 clip in three sets. 
 
Many early touches went through KELLI FORDING, who led the team in kills (13) and total attacks (29). The sophomore outside hitter was effective early with seven first-set kills, Morris found Addy Badly on different swing patterns, and MIA CLAY attacked all areas of the court to help get St. Edward's to a 20-13 lead. 
 
The offense stalled late, allowing Arkansas-Monticello to tie the set and take it to extra points. The moment was reminiscent of several matches last year when an inexperienced Hilltopper team lost early leads. However, the women showed the resolve learned through the previous spring, pulling away to take the set 27-25. 
 
KAT NEILLE went on a scoring run to lead the Hilltoppers to a dominant second-set win, recording four kills on seven attacks with no errors to lead her team to a 25-11 victory. Neille utilized quick, explosive jumps to send the ball careening down before Arkansas Monticello's front row could reach the height of their jump. The sophomore right side also paired with Addie Badley on a pair of blocks. The Hilltoppers supplemented Neille's big swings with five aces to make quick work of Arkansas Monticello. 
 
Senior JAZZY WILLIAMS' serves helped set the tern in the third and final set with a pair of aces, and Fording and Badley combined for ten kills on 15 attacks to clinch the win. Neille, Badley, and Clay recorded nine kills each on better than .270 hitting for an efficient home opener. 
 
St. Edward's 3,  Newman 1
 
LANDRY BAUGHMAN led three Hilltoppers in double-digit kills, and St. Edward's volleyball defeated Newman in four sets to open the season with a pair of wins. 
 
Morris directed another balanced attack with 43 assists, and JORDAN CHAPMAN contributed nine for a Hilltopper attack that blistered the defense with 61 kills on a .374 hitting percentage. The Hilltoppers set the tone with a .452 hitting percentage in the first set, getting four kills each from Baughman and MIa Clay, with the latter hitting a perfect 4-for-4. 
 
Clay ended the day with 24 kills in seven sets played on a .465 hitting percentage through two games. It wasn't just the power behind the first-year's swings but the ability to place the ball in all areas of the court, using touch to sneak a swing in just inside the backline with the back row up or placing it just inside the sideline. 
 
After Newman handed St. Edward's its only lost set of the day, the Hilltoppers battled back dominantly in the third, winning it 25-13. Clay was spectacular with another perfect set, putting down six kills on six attacks. Neille joined her with six kills on ten attacks, and the Hilltoppers hit .500.
 
Baughman added five kills in the fourth set to end the night with a career-high 17 kills, adding four block assists for a career-high 21 points. Clay had 15 kills on a .667 hitting percentage, and Neille added 14 kills on a .281 hitting percentage. 
 
St. Edward's plays Purdue Northwest and the University of Illinois Springfield on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.