AUSTIN, Texas — St. Edward's volleyball enters a three-match week with momentum and an opportunity to climb the Lone Star Conference standings, winning four of its past five matches behind an increasingly balanced attack and pressure from the service line.
The Hilltoppers continued that surge Saturday, overcoming an opening-set loss to defeat rival St. Mary's in four sets. KAYLEN LEMBCKE led the way with a career-high 22 kills on .500 hitting, converting all seven attempts in the decisive fourth set. MIA CLAY added 10 kills, and St. Edward's recorded 12 aces against five service errors.
Lembcke is averaging 3.28 kills per set on .301 hitting in conference play, complementing KELLI FORDING's 3.39 kills per set and Clay's 3.07. ALTHEA MORRIS directs the offense with a conference-leading 10.61 assists per set, while GISELLE OJEDA anchors the back row with 4.27 digs per set.
The week opens Tuesday at UT Dallas against a Comets team playing some of its best volleyball of the season. Consecutive victories over Lubbock Christian, Eastern New Mexico and West Texas A&M lifted UT Dallas to 7-3 in conference play, capped by a sweep of the Lady Buffs.
St. Edward's swept the first meeting during the conference preview in Odessa, winning 25-19, 25-16, 25-19 behind 43 kills on .461 hitting. The Hilltoppers hit better than .500 in each of the first two sets and held an 8-4 advantage in aces.
UT Dallas has since found better defensive footing. The Comets limited West Texas A&M to .038 hitting while producing 44 kills and seven blocks, with Jane Burkhardt and Laura See combining for 26 kills.
Burkhardt provides the primary scoring threat at 4.28 kills per set. See offers an efficient middle option on .339 hitting, while Scarlette Young contributes as both a distributor and attacker, averaging 5.51 assists and 2.58 kills per set. Avery Gray leads the defense with 5.34 digs per set.
The Comets' finish against West Texas A&M demonstrated how their block can turn a set. Trailing 19-15 in the third, UT Dallas pulled even during a Sydney Sabin service turn that included consecutive blocks involving Morgan Helms. Another block by See helped the Comets move ahead later in the set. Keeping multiple attackers available will be especially valuable for St. Edward's against a front line capable of stringing together stops.
Friday brings another opponent gathering momentum. Oklahoma Christian enters the week 13-9 overall and 6-4 in conference play, riding four consecutive victories. The Eagles have hit .279 or better in each match during that stretch, following victories over Texas A&M International and Southern Nazarene with sweeps of Sul Ross State and Western New Mexico.
Oklahoma Christian overwhelmed Western New Mexico 25-4 in Saturday's opening set, recording 14 kills against one error while holding the Mustangs to one kill and six errors. The Eagles finished with a 43-21 advantage in kills and limited Western New Mexico to .039 hitting.
Chloe Jones leads a balanced attack with 2.79 kills per set. Kenzy McArtor contributes 2.56 on .304 hitting, Molly Brunell adds 2.15, and Leah Duncan supplies another efficient option on .289 hitting. St. Edward's serving pressure could help narrow those options by disrupting the Eagles' first contact and making their attack more predictable.
The Hilltoppers will also look to reverse recent series results. Oklahoma Christian has won the past two meetings and holds a 4-3 series advantage, including a four-set victory in Edmond last season.
Saturday's opponent, Cameron, enters the week 2-19 overall and 2-8 in conference play, but its recent results show a team capable of extending matches. The Aggies dropped consecutive five-set contests against Western New Mexico and Sul Ross State, winning the first two sets against the Lobos before surrendering the final three.
Caitlyn Cornell delivered 16 kills on .406 hitting and nine blocks against Sul Ross State. Taylor Silva added 11 kills, 13 digs and three aces, giving Cameron threats at the net and service line.
Sustaining pressure throughout each set will be important for the Hilltoppers. Cameron hit .308 in the second set against Sul Ross State before falling to .049 in the third. Serve reception proved costly in the fifth, when three consecutive Hannah Garcia aces helped the Lobos establish an early 6-1 lead.
St. Edward's has won nine consecutive matches against Cameron and leads the series 16-9. The Hilltoppers swept last season's meeting in Lawton 25-18, 25-15, 25-19.
With seven conference matches remaining, the opportunities to improve their postseason position begin immediately. Tuesday offers a chance to draw level with UT Dallas in conference record, and Friday brings another direct matchup within the tightly packed conference standings. Carrying their serving pressure and offensive balance through all three matches would help the Hilltoppers turn their recent momentum into a stronger position down the stretch.
