MARSHALL, Texas- Heading into the final stretch of the season, the East Texas Baptist University volleyball team can see the finish line of the regular season. With only four matches remaining on the schedule, ETBU will face three of those opponents in the final road trip of the year. Kicking off the three-game road trip will be a contest against LeTourneau University on Tuesday night, who will be looking to avenge an earlier 3-0 loss to the Tigers. ETBU will then travel to Pineville, La., for a match against Louisiana College on Friday, Oct. 20. The road trip will end in Jackson, Miss., where ETBU will take on Belhaven University. The Tigers currently sit at 9-16 overall and 5-7 in American Southwest Conference East Division matches.
Coming into Tuesday's match, ETBU has had the upper hand against the LeTourneau Yellowjackets. Including an earlier season matchup that ended in a sweep for the Tigers, the team is 31-3 in 34 matches against LETU. LETU is coming off of a tough loss to Concordia University-Texas in the ASC Crossover on Saturday, Oct. 14. LETU last defeated Sul Ross State University 3-0 on Friday, Oct. 13. The team is 7-17 overall and 2-10 in ASC East play.
In their very first match with Louisiana College, ETBU came away with the 3-0 sweep on their home floor on Friday, Sept. 29. While the Wildcats will be looking for an ASC victory, the Tigers will look to go undefeated in the series. Leading the attack for the Wildcats is Jaslyn Bright, who has recorded 155 kills on the year and 2.77 per set.
The last matchup for the Tigers will end in Jackson, Miss., where they will be looking to avenge a loss from earlier this season on Saturday. In the last match, BU pulled off a stunning upset snapping a six-game losing streak to the Tigers in a 3-2 win on Sept. 30. All-time, ETBU is 7-3 in 10 matches played against the Blazers. Coming into the weekend contest, BU will look to snap a six-game losing streak, including a 3-0 loss to Hardin-Simmons University on Saturday, Oct. 14.
Taking the lead in kills after a fantastic week is
Paige Miller, with 204 on the season.
Allison Sevening has moved to the second spot in that category, recording 191 total kills. Miller also leads the way in service aces and digs, at 35 and 326 respectively.
Elyse Shaw leads the way in assists at 475, while
Meredith Augsburger is second on the team with 284.
Bailey Byas heads the defensive effort with 51 total blocks on the year.
 Heading into this week's road trip, Head Coach
Keely Peterson believes this is an especially important stretch for her team.
"This week sets the tone for us through the remainder of the season. We need to play good volleyball from here on out," Peterson said.
ETBU will kick-off the road trip in Longview, Texas with a matchup against LeTourneau University on Tuesday, Oct. 17.
