BOX SCORE

WARRENSBURG, Mo. – The Angelo State Belles won their first national postseason match in 20 years with a 3-2 win over St. Edward's University on Thursday in the first round of the NCAA Division II South Central Regional at the UCM Multipurpose Building.

The Belles (31-5) led 2-0 before the Hilltoppers made their comeback to force a decisive fifth match. Kaelen Valdez ended the match with her 18th kill of the night to give Angelo State a 25-23, 25-15, 21-25, 23-25, 15-13 win. St. Edward's ends its season at 21-11. ASU will play at 7:30 p.m. on Friday against the University of Central Missouri (28-4) - a 3-2 winner over Abilene Christian (21-14) in Thursday's nightcap.

“We have been in that situation two times and dropped the match,” ASU head coach Chuck Waddington said. “You know it was probably creeping into their heads that it was going to happen again, but no way. They fought hard and battled back. I couldn't be more proud of my team. They are the best.”

Alex Woolsey led the Belles with 56 assists and added 33 digs in the win that sends ASU to the second round of the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1991. Angelo State is now 3-5 all-time in NCAA tournament matches.

“We had to work hard on every single point,” Woolsey said. “They were not just going to lay down for us. It was a really intense game and we just had to work hard.”

Celeste Bonter had a team-leading 20 kills against St. Edward's, while Valdez added 15 digs to her 18 kills. Debbie Ohl contributed 15 kills and Chelsea Gibson 11, while Shelby Wilt came up with 27 digs and Kayla Smith 21.

“It was our goal to come here and win,” Valdez said. “We didn't want to let it slip away and not finish it.”

Shelby Warick added 16 digs and Maddie Huth tallied nine kills to the Belles' total of 75. ASU led SEU 123-116 in team digs.

“These girls are going to remember this because they busted it all summer and in the preseason to get to this point” Waddington said. “We didn't come here to just show up and be happy we are here. We want to compete for a national championship and we are one step closer to that today and I'm loving it.”

Courtney Trevino led St. Edward's with 18 kills and seven digs, while Ashley Vander Hey contributed 25 digs and 17 kills for the regular-season Heartland Conference champions.

“They made an adjustment in Game 3,” Waddington said. “They flip flopped their outside hitters to get a better blocking matchup. It took us a little while to catch on to that. But we kept fighting and scrapped it out. Sometimes that is what you have to do. Sometimes it can't be pretty or anything other than a battle and something you have to fight for.”

Side Notes

The win was the Belles second of the season over the Hilltoppers and takes the overall series record to 15-9 in favor of ASU... Head coach Chuck Waddington is now 4-0 against SEU, including a 3-2 win on Aug. 29, 2008, which was his first win as a head coach.