St. Edward’s splits on first day of Hilltopper Classic
AUSTIN, Texas - The St. Edward's volleyball team split two matches to open the Hilltopper Classic. The Hilltoppers defeated Nebraska-Omaha, 3-0, in the opening match and lost the finale against East Central, 3-1.
In Friday's opening match, St. Edward's (1-5) came out strong against Nebraska-Omaha (3-3). The Hilltoppers led the entire first set, taking it 25-22. Sophomore Pam Osborn led the way with five kills in the set.
St. Edward's controlled most of the second game as well. They led 17-10 midway through the set. The Mavericks wouldn't go down without a fight though. They came back and pulled within one, 22-21, late in the set. The Hilltoppers rose to the challenge. Senior Lindsey Douglas and freshman Michaella Walton came up with a huge block that shifted the momentum in the Hilltoppers favor. St. Edward's scored the next two points to take the set, 25-21.
Both teams fought hard in the third set, taking a 22-22 tie late into the set. With the score tied, Walton notched a crucial kill after a long exchange between the two kills. The Hilltoppers scored the next point as well, and then senior Mandy Philips registered an ace to seal the deal, 25-22.
Osborn led the way for St. Edward's with 11 kills and a .458 hitting average. Douglas and freshman Ashley Vander Hey each tallied eight kills and had nine and 16 digs, respectively. Senior Kelsey Teal led the defensive effort with 22 digs. Sophomore Chelsea Barsamian pitched in with an impressive 31 assists.
This was the Hilltoppers first win of the season. Many of the players were excited after the match. Walton summed up her excitement after the match by saying "words can't describe the sense of accomplishment our team got from winning in straight sets, especially after last weekends tough tournament."
In the day's second match, St. Edward's struggled against a tough East Central Oklahoma (1-1) squad. The Hilltoppers got off to a slow start in the first set, but was able to rally and tie it up, 16-16. This momentum didn't last and East Central took the set, 25-18.
The Tigers came out strong in set two, running out to an early, 12-6, lead. St. Edward's caught fire though, going on a, 8-2, run. This tied the score, 14-14. The two teams battled back and forth until the score was knotted up, 23-23. Vander Hey and freshman Leigha Whitmire each earned a kill to take the set, 25-23.
St. Edward's could not build on this set two win. East Central took both sets three and four, 25-13, to clinch the match.
Walton led the way offensively for the Hilltoppers with nine kills. Vander Hey added eight kills, while Osborn notched seven. Douglas, Vander Hey, and Teal each tallied 16 digs to lead the defense. Barsamian dished out 29 assists.
St. Edward's will be back in action Saturday as the team concludes the Hilltopper Classic. The Hilltoppers will take on Emporia State at 2:30 p.m. and Southern Arkansas at 7:00 p.m.