As the 2011 season draws to a close, the volleyball team has seen its fair share of victories and losses.

The Hilltoppers ended the season with a 21-11 record, and won their fourth consecutive Heartland Conference Championship. They also advanced to the NCAA South Central Regional Tournament in Warrensburg, Missouri for the first time in six years.

The battle between the #4 seed Angelo State and the Hilltoppers proved to be a fight to the end, and the Hilltopper lost in a five-set match: 23-25, 15-25, 25-21, 25-23 and 13-15.

“If you are going to lose out in the NCAA Tournament, this was the way to go out,” Coach Sean Donahue said in a press release last week. “I am so proud of our similar.”

Four players are expected to graduate before the start of the new season, three of which are outside hitters. However, Hanna Rauch from Frisco, Texas, and Mary Koeler from Flower Mound, Texas have joined the 2012 Hilltopper recruiting class. Both new recruits will compete for playing time as outside hitter for the Hilltoppers.

Information for this article was compiled from St. Edward’s University Sports Information press releases.