Austin, Texas-The new look Edward Waters women's volleyball squad officially opened their 2022 campaign by competing in the Hilltopper Classic hosted by St. Edward's University. The Lady Tigers dropped both games of their action on Day One, 3-0 to Harding and 3-0 vs. Barry. EWU opened Day Two action on Sunday falling in straight sets, 3-0 to Dallas Baptist, but rallied to salvage a win in five sets, 3-2 against host school St. Edward's.

GAME ONE: Harding 3, Edward Waters 0 (22-25, 19-25, 12-25): 

Edward Waters kept the contest relatively close over the first two sets of their opening contest against the Harding University Bisons, but ultimately ran out of steam in the final set, as they fell in straight sets. A consistent offensive attack from the Bisons proved to be the difference in the contest as they racked up 48 total kills to just 26 for the Purple & Orange. Harding had a .212 hitting percentage in the contest and held Edward Waters to a .085 percentage.

Second Team Preseason All-SIAC selection Saldy Amparo Smiith led Edward Waters with 11 kills and 10 digs, while newcomer Naomy Vergez Varona chipped in with 10 kills and nine digs. Freshman Mataiya Barber led EWU with 17 kills and also recorded her first collegiate service ace, while also contributing 11 digs to the EWU efforts. Senior libero Andrea Diaz Merced finished with a team high 16 digs in the contest as well.

GAME TWO: Barry 3, Edward Waters 0 (18-25, 16-25, 20-25):

Game Two of the first day of the Classic featured a battle of two squads from the state of Florida as EWU faced Miami's Barry University. It was a near carbon copy of the first contest of the day against Harding as there was too much offensive firepower from the Bucs in another straight sets loss for the Lady Tigers. Barry collected 50 kills and hit .394 in the contest, compared to 35 kills and .152 for EWU. 18 critical attacking errors for EWU compounded things in the loss as well.

Saldy Amparo Smith led EWU with 18 kills and five digs for the Purple & Orange. Mataiya Barber led EWU with 25 assists, while Andrea Diaz Merced finished with nine digs.

GAME THREE: Dallas Baptist 3, Edward Waters 0 (11-25, 20-25, 19-25):

The first contest of Day Two pitted the Lady Tigers against the Patriots of Dallas Baptist University. The Patriots hit the ground running in the first set, rolling out to a dominant 25-11 win and did not look back from there. DBU hit .267 with 44 kills in the match, while EWU had 28 kills and hit .187.

Naomy Vergez Varona led EWU with 10 kills, while Saldy Amparo Smith and Caytlin Willis had six kills apiece. Mataiya Barber finished with 21 assists and Andrea Diaz Merced finished with 14 digs.

GAME FOUR: Edward Waters 3, St. Edward's 0 (22-25, 25-20, 25-20, 23-25, 15-11):

The offensive floodgates finally opened for Edward Waters in the final contest of the Classic against host school St. Edward's. The Lady Tigers and Hilltoppers went blow-for-blow in a five set slugfest that ultimately resulted in the Purple & Orange notching victory in the final set 15-11 and clinching their first victory of the season. Edward Waters had 65 total kills in the contest, while the homestanding Hilltoppers had 52 kills.

Saldy Amparo Smith recorded another double-double with a match high 23 kills and 15 digs, while Naomy Vergez Varona had 19 total kills and nine digs.  Mataiya Barber dished out a match high 58 assists for the Purple & Orange. Andrea Diaz. Merced regorded 26 digs to tie for the match high, while Fatima Ramirez contributed 16 and Barber with 13.

For her efforts over the two days, Saldy Amparo Smith was selected to the All-Tournament Team.

The Lady Tigers will return home on Saturday as they will host the inaugural HBCU Volleyball Invitational. EWU will welcome Dillard, Benedict, Fort Valley State, Clark-Atlanta, Talladega, Florida Memorial, Tuskegee, Rust, and Winston-Salem State in the two-day invitational. EWU will open their action on Sunday at 11:00am against Dillard and also at 5:00pm vs. Winston-Salem State.

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