AUSTIN, Texas — St. Edward's volleyball has spent the first two weeks of the season searching for the right combinations across a deeper roster. As the Hilltoppers close their season-opening road stretch this weekend, several of those pieces are settling into place. 
 
The Hilltoppers enter this week's non-conference Lone Star Conference Challenge at 4-4 after splitting four matches at each of their first two tournaments. St. Edward's closed the Bahama House Classic with victories over Florida Tech and Embry-Riddle, then earned wins over Midwestern State and South Dakota Mines at the Mountain Lion Classic. 
 
Five of the Hilltoppers' first eight matches have extended beyond three sets, including five-set matches against Michigan Tech and Midwestern State, showing the depth and adaptability head coach Jeremy Garica emphasized throughout the preseason. 
 
That emerging depth has helped the Hilltoppers develop one of the more productive attacks in LSC. St. Edward's ranks second in the conference and 42nd nationally with 13.38 kills per set. Its 12.16 assists per set rank third in the LSC and 55th in DII. 
 
Junior Setter ALTHEA MORRIS's control of the offense and new teammates grows each match, earning LSC Setter of the Week and Mountain Lion Classic All-Tournament Team honors after averaging 10.44 assists per set over four matches in Colorado Springs, balancing the attack by setting five different Hilltoppers to career-best performances over the weekend. 
 
Senior outside hitter KELLI FORDING remains the focal point, producing 102 kills through eight matches for an average of 3.92 per set, ranking second in the LSC and 24th nationally. She has reached double-digit kills six times, including matching 19-kill performances in victories over Florida Tech and Embry-Riddle, and a career-high 24 in a win over South Dakota Mines. 
 
Fording's efficiency has increased as the season has progressed, and St. Edward's has found more ways to distribute the offense around her. MIA CLAY delivered 21 kills in a five-set win over Midwestern State, while KAYLEN LEMBCKE produced 19 against Michigan Tech. KARA WYNN adds another physical option on the pins, and CARRINGTON JAIMES and GRACE MCDONALD have provided efficiency and energy through the middle. 
 
The Hilltoppers' offensive volume will meet two teams built to extend rallies. UT Dallas and UTPB rank No. 34 and 35 nationally at 16.81 and 16.64 digs per set. St. Edward's libero GISELLE OJEDA ranks fifth in the conference at 4.47 digs per set, totaling 143 through the first two weekends. 
 
UT Dallas (4-3)
 
The Comets have played three five-set contests, pushing then-No. 15 Central Oklahoma to the limit, and splitting matches against Southern Nazarene and Augustana. 
 
UT Dallas has answered every bit of adversity this season, rebounding from each loss with a win. Outside hitter Jane Burkhardt carries the largest share of the UT Dallas offense with 102 kills, matching Fording's total through the opening two weeks. 
 
The Comets use multiple setters to create different looks in versatile lineups. Scarlette Young leads the group with 153 assists and is second on the team in kills at 66, recording two triple-doubles. Abby Gentner has added 109 assists, and libero Avery Gray ranks third in the LSC and 24th nationally with 5.07 digs per set. 
 
UT Dallas also presents a challenge through the middle, where Laura See is hitting .388 and leads the Comets with 24 total blocks. Savana Welch has contributed 43 kills and 21 blocks. 
 
Texas Permian Basin (3-1)
Saturday's match offers a different challenge against a UTPB team that has paired its offense with one of the nation's most effective defenses.

The Falcons opened the season 3-1 at the Kathleen Brasfield Invitational under first-year head coach Melissa Avila. UTPB began with consecutive sweeps over Fort Lewis and Minnesota State Moorhead, added a sweep against CSU Pueblo and closed the weekend with its only loss.

UTPB ranks fourth in the LSC with a .234 hitting percentage while limiting opponents to .104, the 14th-best mark in Division II. The Falcons also average 1.93 aces, 1.93 blocks and 16.64 digs per set, creating pressure in each phase before opponents can settle into their offense.

Kaitlyn Salgado led the Falcons throughout opening weekend, recording double-digit kills in all four matches. She totaled 51 kills, averaged 3.64 per set, and hit .310 while adding 39 digs. Salgado ranks fifth in the LSC in kills per set and was named to the Kathleen Brasfield Invitational All-Tournament Team.

Nickilah Whatley gives UTPB another efficient option, hitting .308 while averaging 0.93 blocks per set. Sydney Bradley leads the Falcons at one block per set, while Kierra Freeman drives their service pressure with 11 aces. Freeman's 0.79 aces per set rank first in the LSC and 12th nationally.

UTPB uses Freeman and Emma Gonzalez in a two-setter system. Gonzalez averages 4.57 assists per set, while Freeman adds 4.43, allowing the Falcons to keep multiple attackers available across rotations.

The Falcons won last season's meeting in Austin, defeating St. Edward's in the LSC opener despite a late serving surge from Fording. Saturday gives the Hilltoppers an opportunity to measure their progress against the same opponent before this year's conference schedule begins.

The weekend closes a 10-match road stretch for St. Edward's. The Hilltoppers return to the Recreation and Athletics Center next week for their home and conference opener against UTPB on Friday, Sept. 18.