DALLAS — St. Edward's volleyball grew into the challenge against a DBU team receiving votes in the national poll, sharpening its attack with each set before falling 25-16, 25-19, 22-25, 25-23 to the Patriots on Saturday.

The Hilltoppers adjusted to the jump in competition after three consecutive sweeps, improving their hitting percentage from .075 in the opening set to .194 in the second, .279 in the third and .400 in the fourth. St. Edward's extended the match behind MIA CLAY and KELLI FORDING, then pushed DBU to the closing points before the Patriots prevailed.

Clay led all players with 19 kills on .359 hitting, passing 600 career kills in the process. Fording added 17 kills and two service aces, while ALTHEA MORRIS distributed 43 assists with nine digs. GISELLE OJEDA anchored the defense with 17 digs and two aces.

DBU's block disrupted the Hilltoppers early, accounting for four of St. Edward's eight attack errors in the first set. The teams traded points through a 7-7 tie before the Patriots scored four consecutive points to create separation. St. Edward's trimmed a 20-12 deficit to four, but DBU closed with five consecutive points.

Fording began to find her footing in the second, increasing from one kill in the opener to four. Clay also put down four kills, improving from .091 hitting in the first to .333 in the second. Ojeda supplied seven digs and both of her aces as the Hilltoppers became more competitive, though another four-block set helped DBU take a 2-0 lead.

St. Edward's turned those adjustments into a breakthrough in the third. Fording delivered seven kills, and Clay added six without an error on 10 swings, combining for 13 of the Hilltoppers' 17 kills.

The defense created opportunities to sustain that attack. GRACE MCDONALD and Morris combined to block Aizlyn Dewberry for a 6-4 lead, and CARRINGTON JAIMES later denied Dewberry with a solo block during a four-point run that pushed St. Edward's ahead 10-6.

Ojeda contributed five digs, Morris delivered 14 assists, and St. Edward's held DBU to .194 hitting. The Hilltoppers answered each late push, with Clay supplying three kills down the stretch before Fording finished the set.

St. Edward's carried that rhythm into the fourth, producing 15 kills with only three errors. Clay and Fording contributed five kills each, with Fording hitting .400 and Clay .444. LANDRY BAUGHMAN added three kills on four swings to give the Hilltoppers another productive option.

After trailing 10-6, St. Edward's worked back into the set. Consecutive Fording kills gave the Hilltoppers an 18-17 lead, and her second ace later stretched the advantage to 21-19. Clay followed with a kill for a 22-20 cushion.

DBU answered with three consecutive points. Clay tied the set at 23, but Lauren Witte delivered the final two kills to end the match. The Patriots hit .625 without an attack error in the fourth, overcoming St. Edward's most efficient set.

The loss leaves St. Edward's 10-9 overall and 5-4 in Lone Star Conference play, sitting ninth in a tightly packed conference middle. Two teams at 5-3 and two at 6-3 remain ahead of the Hilltoppers. DBU improved to 14-3 overall and 7-1 in conference play.