NOTRE DAME, Ind. — Over two days at the Saint Mary's College Valentine's Day Tournament, St. Edward's showed clear progression—opening with precision, responding to adversity, and finishing with composure to post a 3-1 record inside the Angela Athletic & Wellness Complex.
The Hilltoppers opened the weekend with a flawless performance, sweeping St. Norbert 10-0. St. Edward's established control immediately, winning the opening two routines of the first quarter and steadily building separation. The Hilltoppers led 4-0 at halftime and continued stacking points in the second half, including decisive 3-0 and 1-0 routine wins in the fourth quarter to complete the shutout. It marked the program's most complete performance of the early season, defined by clean execution and consistent control from start to finish.
Later that day, St. Edward's faced a strong George Fox squad and battled throughout a competitive 21-15 loss. The Hilltoppers split early routines and stayed within reach, trailing just 7-2 at halftime. St. Edward's showed resilience in the second half, winning key routines and matching George Fox in multiple fourth-quarter sequences, including two tied routines and a late 2-1 victory. While the result went to George Fox, the Hilltoppers demonstrated growth and adaptability against one of the tournament's top teams.
St. Edward's carried that momentum into Sunday, opening the day with a dominant 21-8 victory over Michigan. The Hilltoppers controlled the early routines, building a 3-0 first-quarter lead and extending their advantage to 8-4 through three quarters. The decisive surge came in the fourth, where St. Edward's swept all four routines and outscored Michigan 13-4 in the final frame. The Hilltoppers captured each sequence with authority, including commanding 4-2, 3-0, and 5-2 routine victories, showcasing growing confidence and execution.
St. Edward's closed the tournament with its most complete test, defeating host Saint Mary's 20-16 in a tightly contested finale. The Hilltoppers established early control by winning three of the first four routines to take a 4-1 lead after the opening quarter. Saint Mary's responded with pressure in the second half, trimming the margin to a single routine. But St. Edward's answered in the decisive moments, capturing a pivotal 4-2 routine on Saint Mary's possession before securing the match with a 3-2 victory in the final sequence. The closing stretch reflected a team executing with poise under pressure and finishing with authority.
Across the weekend, the Hilltoppers showed steady growth with each match. St. Edward's swept routines when in control, responded with resilience when challenged, and finished the tournament executing with confidence and composure. The 3-1 showing reflects a team continuing to build momentum, sharpen its execution, and establish itself as a rising presence early in the 2026 season.
