DALLAS – St. Edward's volleyball dropped two matches to open the season, falling in three sets against Southern Baptist University and in a tough five-set loss to Minnesota State University-Moorhead. 
 
Game 1: Southern Baptist 3, St. Edward's 0 (20-25, 17-25, 27-29)
 
KAT NEILLE posted a team-high 10 kills in the third set, but the Hilltoppers hit just .057 as a team with 10 service errors in a three-set loss to Southern Baptist.
 
GISELLE OJEDA had a match-best 13 digs, KELLI FORDING posted five kills, two aces, and a solo block and block assist. ADDY BADLEY added six kills on a .235 hitting percentage with a block assist. 
 
Gabriela Dupree led Southern Baptist with 11 kills and five service aces. 
 
Game 2: MSU-Moorhead 3, St. Edward's 2 (25-21, 25-19, 19-25, 21-25, 12-15)
 
Badley opened the second match dominantly, recording seven of her match-high 21 kills in the first set. The senior middle blocker recorded no errors and a .636 hitting percentage in the first set, leading the Hilltoppers to a 25-21 win. 
 
Fording joined Badley in the second set, combining for seven kills, and the Hilltoppers took advantage of four MSU-Moorhead service errors and seven attack errors for the 25-19 win. 
 
MSU-Moorehead hit .361 in the third set, turning the tide with a balanced attack led by Brielle Riess and Raiah Mandell's combined eight kills for the 25-19 win. Jocelin Feutz posted four kills in the third set to bring MSU-Moorehead even with a 25-21 lead.
 
Badley kept her pace with four kills in the fifth set, but Mya Pfeifer and Mandell had three each to clinch the match for MSU-Moorhead with a 15-12 win.
 
Badley posted a .372 hitting percentage. Freshman GRACE MCDONALD added six kills on 11 attacks for a .455 hitting percentage. Three MSU-Moorhead players recorded double-digit kills, led by Mandell's 18 on .308 hitting. 
 
St. Edward's will close its weekend in Dallas with a morning match against East Central University on Saturday at 11:30 a.m.