AUSTIN – University of Arkansas – Fort Smith Volleyball came up short in a five-set battle at St. Edward's Friday, falling 25-16, 25-27, 28-26, 23-25, 6-15 in Lone Star Conference action.

The Lions hit .256 in the opening set as they jumped out to an 11-3 lead and never looked back for the early set lead.

Sets two and three went back-and-forth, with each team taking a set of more than 25 points. UAFS had set point in set two but the Hilltoppers rallied to score five of the final six points to even the match.

The Lions led by four in set three and once again had set point at 24-22 before the Hilltoppers rattled off three straight for a 25-24 advantage. UAFS then tied the set and held off set point by scoring three straight themselves for the set win.

St. Edward's led by as many as 10 in the fourth set until right-side hitter Reagan Macha spurred a 9-0 run with four kills to pull the Lions within 19-18. The Hilltoppers ended the run with three consecutive points and held off the Lions' rally to even the match.

The Hilltoppers then hit .438 to -.050 for the Lions in the fifth set as they rallied to defeat the Lions.

UAFS had a number of individual performances, with setter Chloe Price notching a double-double with 31 assists and 20 digs. Macha also had a double-double with 17 kills and 13 digs.

Libero Lauren Weber led six players with double-figure digs with 28. Setter Chloe Alderson had a double-double with 11 assists and 15 digs, while outside hitter Caelyn Gunn and middle blocker Hannah Holland each had 10 digs.

UAFS had 119 total digs, the seventh most all-time in a single match. Four of the top seven matches for total digs have come against St. Edward's. The Lions' 230 attack attempts ranks third all-time.

The Lions continue the road trip Saturday at 2 p.m. at St. Mary's.