AUSTIN, Texas — St. Edward's delivered 11 aces and held UT Permian Basin to a .138 hitting percentage Friday night, sweeping the Falcons 25-19, 25-16, 25-19 in the Hilltoppers' Lone Star Conference and home opener.
KELLI FORDING led St. Edward's with 14 kills on .406 hitting, while GRACE MCDONALD added 11 kills on .429 hitting. ALTHEA MORRIS directed the offense with 38 assists as the Hilltoppers improved to 6-5 overall and 1-0 in conference play.
St. Edward's took control of the opening set early. Three McDonald kills helped build an 8-3 lead, and LANDRY BAUGHMAN later served a five-point run that stretched the margin to 17-7. UTPB saved five set points before McDonald closed out the 25-19 win with her sixth kill of the set.
The Falcons briefly led 5-3 in the second, but Bella Briceño's service turn helped St. Edward's reclaim the lead. GISELLE OJEDA then served three consecutive aces during a four-point run that pushed the advantage to 18-11. KAYLEN LEMBCKE contributed three late kills, and McDonald finished the 25-16 set.
St. Edward's raced ahead 13-3 in the third, with Fording supplying four kills during the opening surge. UTPB trimmed the deficit to four at 16-12, but the Hilltoppers answered with a six-point stretch to regain control. Lembcke put away match point for the 25-19 finish.
Ojeda finished with four aces and 15 digs. Baughman matched her four aces, while Lembcke had four kills on six attempts. St. Edward's hit .333 in the final set to complete the sweep.
The Hilltoppers return to the Recreation and Athletics Center on Saturday to face nationally ranked Angelo State.
