TYLER, Texas — St. Edward's volleyball went toe-to-toe with one of the Lone Star Conference's hottest teams for much of Wednesday night, but UT Tyler found the finishing touches late to sweep the Hilltoppers 27-25, 25-15, 26-24.
The Hilltoppers (7-8, 2-3 LSC) held late leads in both the first and third sets against a UT Tyler team that improved to 12-2 overall and 3-1 in conference play. The Patriots ultimately separated themselves at the net, finishing with 10 team blocks while holding St. Edward's to a .104 hitting percentage.
St. Edward's showed early it was prepared for the challenge. The opening set featured 15 ties and 10 lead changes, with neither team able to establish control. The Hilltoppers broke a 13-13 tie behind consecutive aces from KAYLEN LEMBCKE and a MIA CLAY kill to take a 16-13 lead. UT Tyler eventually moved back in front 21-19, but St. Edward's answered with a CARRINGTON JAIMES kill and KELLI FORDING ace, followed by a Jaimes-Lembcke block gave St. Edward's a 22-21 advantage.
The teams continued trading points deep into the set. Clay erased UT Tyler's first set point with a kill to tie the score at 25, but the Patriots answered with consecutive kills to escape with a 27-25 win. Clay carried the Hilltopper attack in the opener with six kills without an error on 21 swings.
UT Tyler carried that momentum into the second set. After St. Edward's took an early 3-1 lead, the Patriots responded with an 11-1 run to build a 12-4 advantage. The Hilltoppers briefly cut the deficit to three behind consecutive GISELLE OJEDA aces and a Jaimes kill, but UT Tyler regained control and closed out the set 25-15. St. Edward's was limited to seven kills with seven errors in the frame.
St. Edward's responded by changing the complexion of its attack in the third. KARA WYNN and LANDRY BAUGHMAN entered the starting group and helped the Hilltoppers race to a 9-3 lead. UT Tyler answered with seven consecutive points, but St. Edward's steadied itself and continued trading runs with the Patriots.
Wynn provided a spark throughout the set, delivering five kills on 11 swings. Her fourth kill put St. Edward's ahead 19-17, and the Hilltoppers remained in front as late as 21-20 after a Jaimes kill. UT Tyler moved ahead 22-21 before St. Edward's answered twice, eventually reaching set point at 24-23 on another Wynn kill.
Autumn Perry tied the score at 24, UT Tyler moved ahead on a St. Edward's attack error, and Perry followed with the match-clinching kill for the 26-24 victory.
Clay led St. Edward's with eight kills, while Wynn finished with six kills on a .235 hitting percentage. Jaimes added six kills while hitting .333, and Lembcke and GRACE MCDONALD contributed five apiece. MACY PHILLIPS directed the offense with 26 assists, while BELLA BRICENO collected a team-high 15 digs and Ojeda added 11.
UT Tyler finished with a .206 hitting percentage behind Sydney Atkinson's match-high 11 kills on .435 hitting and Maya Jones' 10 kills on .333 hitting. The Patriots also held a 10-3 advantage in team blocks. 231056
St. Edward's returns home for the remainder of its three-match week, hosting Texas A&M-Kingsville on Friday and Texas A&M International on Saturday.
