AUSTIN, Texas — St. Edward's volleyball's resurgence under second-year head coach Jeremy Garcia was recognized with four All-Conference selections, highlighted by junior
ALTHEA MORRIS earning the program's first Lone Star Conference Setter of the Year award.
Morris and senior outside hitter
KELLI FORDING earned All-LSC First Team recognition, while libero
GISELLE OJEDA and opposite hitter
KAYLEN LEMBCKE received honorable mention. Morris also earned a place on the LSC All-Academic Team, recognizing her accomplishments on the court and in the classroom.
The awards reflect a breakthrough season for St. Edward's, which earned the No. 4 seed in the LSC Tournament, making its first postseason appearance since 2021. The Hilltoppers developed one of the conference's most productive offenses, pairing a balanced attack with aggressive serving and improved ball control.
Morris was at the center of that transformation, commanding an offense that became one of the league's most difficult attacks to defend.
Morris led the LSC in assists per set (10.89), distributing the ball across an attack featuring multiple high-volume hitters while maintaining the tempo and precision that defined the Hilltopper offense. Her ability to identify favorable matchups and keep opposing blockers moving helped St. Edward's rank among the conference leaders in both kills and assists per set.
She enters the LSC Tournament 20 assists shy of her second 1,000-assist season, with the program's single-season record of 1,013 in the 25-point rally-scoring era within reach.
Fording joined Morris on the First Team after providing a consistent offensive presence for the Hilltoppers throughout the season. The senior outside hitter finished fourth in the LSC in kills per set (3.67) and points per set (4.10), combining an aggressive serve with the ability to terminate rallies. She also surpassed 1,000 career kills this season, adding another milestone to a career that has produced consecutive All-LSC selections.
While Morris and Fording provided much of the offensive foundation, Ojeda and Lembcke supplied two different but equally important dimensions to the team's success.
Ojeda earned honorable mention for her work anchoring the back row as one of the conference's leading defenders in digs per set. Her floor coverage provided the first contact that allowed St. Edward's to transition quickly into its offense, while her consistent serve receive helped the Hilltoppers sustain rallies and create more scoring opportunities.
Lembcke earned honorable mention after emerging as another dangerous option in St. Edward's balanced attack. Her heavy arm and ability to produce kills in critical stretches gave Morris another reliable target and provided a potent one-two punch alongside Fording.
Together, the four selections represent the complementary strengths behind St. Edward's turnaround. Morris directed the offense, Fording and Lembcke supplied attacking production, and Ojeda provided the defensive stability necessary to keep the system operating.
The Hilltoppers surged into postseason contention with a seven-match winning streak and recorded 10 three-set sweeps during the regular season, earning the No. 4 seed in the LSC Tournament to face fifth-seeded Midwestern State in the opening round Thursday at 4:30 p.m.
