AUSTIN, Texas — St. Edward's volleyball opened Friday night with a blistering 9–0 start and never looked back, sweeping Sul Ross State 25–14, 25–16, 25–17 at the Recreation and Athletics Center.

From the first whistle, the Hilltoppers played like a team intent on setting the tone for the final weekend of conference play: organized in serve-receive, decisive in transition, and powered by a steady wave of attackers who never let the pace slow.

St. Edward's (10–11, 7–9) delivered a near-perfect opening frame. Libero GISELLE OJEDA jump-started the night with a five-point service run before Sul Ross burned an early timeout. The Hilltoppers were clean and composed, scoring nine kills before the Lobos collected their third point, leading 16-2. 

Setter ALTHEA MORRIS orchestrated the offense with precision, delivering 13 first-set assists while feeding the hot hands of KELLI FORDING, MIA CLAY, and Addy Badly, who attacked in rhythm throughout the night. After weathering a brief Sul Ross push, the Hilltoppers closed the set to finish 25–14.

The second set turned into the Badley-Clay show, with both hitters carving up the Lobo block. Badley unloaded eight kills on the frame, scoring from all three zones, while Clay added six more as Morris repeatedly found them in stride during transition.

Trailing 13–11, the Hilltoppers ripped off a decisive 14–3 run. St. Edward's serve pressure was relentless — four aces in the set — and the Hilltoppers' sideout game never dropped below 67 percent.

St. Edward's took Set 2, 25–16, behind .314 hitting and zero reception errors.

Sul Ross found early energy in the third set, but St. Edward's depth extinguished it quickly. GRACE MCDONALD and LANDRY BAUGHMAN powered the turning point, combining for crucial kills during a 9–1 run that flipped a 5–8 deficit into a commanding 14–12 lead.

Once again, the serve-receive battery of Ojeda and Morris stabilized the floor, freeing the Hilltoppers to push tempo. Badley added five more kills, finishing with a match-high 16 on .536 hitting, while Fording added four kills in the set.

Clay joined Badley in double-digit kills with 12 on .269 hitting. Morris orchestrated a .327 team hitting percentage with 36 assists, and Ojeda anchored the back row with 14 digs. 

A Morris ace pushed the score to 24–16, and Baughman closed the night with a hard-driven swing for the 25–17 win and three-set sweep.