The University of Texas of the Permian Basin volleyball dropped a tightly-contested opening set in Thursday night's Heartland Conference contest against St. Edward's, and the Falcons were unable to regroup in a 3-0 loss to the Hilltoppers in Austin, Texas.

UTPB scored the first three points of the match behind a pair of kills from Keeley Brogdon and an ace by Ariel Fralick, and stayed with St. Edward's throughout the first half of the set to a 13-13 tie. But the Hilltoppers took over in the first, winning the next six points and 12 of the last 15 to take a nine-point 25-16 opening set win.

The Falcons played close in the second set as well, leading 6-3 with a pair of kills by Hannah Rebb.A five-point run by St. Edward's helped them clain an 8-6 lead, but the Falcons kept the Hilltoppers within three points until tying the set up at 14-14. St. Edward's eventially scored six of seven points to clim a 20-15 lead, and held off the Falcons at the end of the set to claim the second 25-22.

St. Edward's used a fast start in the third to claim an 8-2 lead early on, but the Falcons responded to tie the set up at 13-13 on a four-point swing. That was as close as UTPB could get in the remainder of the third, as the Hilltoppers followed with five straight points and held off the Falcons for a 25-20 win in the third to take the match.

Hannah Rebb led the Falcons with 12 kills in the match while Ariel Fralick tallied 18 assists and Taylor Harmon led UTPB with 16 digs.

The Falcons continue road action this weekend, taking on McMurry Saturday afternoon at 12 p.m. in Abilene, Texas.