For the second year in a row, the Dallas Baptist Lady Patriot Volleyball Team has advanced to the Heartland Conference Championship Game, after picking up a win over St. Edward's University in opening round action on Friday evening.

It took five sets and 220 total points before the Lady Patriots were eventually crowned the victor over tournament host and number one seed, St. Edward's. The two teams split their regular season series with one another, with the Hilltoppers sweeping the Lady Patriots less than three weeks ago.

The Hilltoppers jumped out to an early lead in front of their home crowd on Friday, coasting to an opening set victory, 25-15. The Lady Patriots responded with 19 kills and only four attack errors in the second, for a 25-20 win, to even the series at one game apiece.

The two teams continued their battle in the third, with St. Edward's taking a 9-5 lead. The two teams battled back and forth throughout the set, but a late surge from the Hilltoppers was too much to overcome for the Lady Patriots, as they won 25-18.

In a 'win or go home' situation in the fourth, the Lady Patriots jumped out to an early, 3-0 lead. The Hilltoppers responded with an impressive, 11-3 run to take an 11-6 lead of their own. Trailing 19-15, DBU managed to turn the momentum in their favor with a four-point run to tie the set at 19. Still tied late, two kills by Sophomore Christina Steinkruger gave the Lady Patriots a 25-23 win, forcing a game five tiebreaker.


The fifth and final set proved to be an epic battle, with long rallies and aggressive play that resulted in 15 ties throughout the set. With neither being able to pull away, the two teams found themselves tied at 17-17, and then again at 21-21. Finally, two kills by Junior Kaylyn Frink gave the Lady Patriots the 23-21 win, and secured a place in Saturday's championship game.

Steinkruger led the way for the Lady Patriots with 22 kills and only one attack error, for a staggering .477 attack percentage. Freshman Krystal Wunderlich was the only other Lady Patriot in double figure kills with 19. Freshman Cameron Hartson and Frink picked up 29 and 21 digs, respectively, for DBU.

The Lady Patriots will look to defend their 2009 Tournament Championship as they face St. Mary's University at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday. The winner will claim the Heartland Conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, set to begin on November 18.