SAN ANTONIO – In a rivalry match that swung wildly between momentum and frustration, St. Edward's volleyball fell just short in a five-set battle to St. Mary's, 25–20, 17–25, 18–25, 25–9, 15–10, on Saturday afternoon at Bill Greehey Arena.

After dropping the opening frame, the Hilltoppers surged through the middle sets behind a balanced attack led by ADDY BADLEY and KELLI FORDING at the net. Badley finished with 15 kills and a .419 hitting percentage, while Fording added 19 kills. Setter ALTHEA MORRIS orchestrated the offense with 49 assists and three service aces, while libero GISELLE OJEDA anchored the back row with 22 digs.

The Hilltoppers' offense was crisp through the second and third sets, hitting .194 and .302, respectively, and sideing out at a 76% clip in the second. But the match turned sharply in the fourth, as St. Edward's hit just –.037 while St. Mary's rode a six-ace barrage and 12 kills to even the match.

In the decisive fifth, St. Mary's jumped out to a 6–2 lead behind Landri Withers' steady hand, and the Hilltoppers never fully recovered despite late swings from Badley and Fording.

The loss drops St. Edward's to 6-9 overall, 3-7 in Lone Star Conference play, while St. Mary's improves to 9-11 (6-4 LSC).
St. Edward's returns home next week to host UT Dallas in the Recreation and Athletics Center on Tuesday.