MARSHALL, Texas – Going five sets in an American Southwest Conference East Division match, the East Texas Baptist University volleyball team fought to the end but the fifth set went to Belhaven University, 15-12, as they took the win, 3-2. ETBU is now 7-12 overall and 3-3 on the season and 3-4 in American Southwest Conference East Division play.
Abby Weaver notched an incredible 17 kills while
Allison Sevening added four blocks and 11 kills of her own.
Paige Miller connected on six aces and 29 digs while
Elyse Shaw (26 assists) and
Meredith Augsburger (23 assists) combined for 49 assists.
In set one, the momentum was in Belhaven's favor in the early going, leading ETBU 7-4 until four consecutive points, concluded by a kill by
Alexis Contos, gave the home team the 8-7 advantage. The teams battled back and forth throughout the set until the Tigers seized control of the game and won the set 25-16.
The Blazers responded with a vengeance in the second set. The visitors rattled off four straight points early to take the 4-1 lead. A kill by Weaver tied the game at 5-5 until a service error and a kill put the Blazers back on top by two. Belhaven carried the lead all the way to the end of the set, coming away with the 25-17 win.
Set three proved to be a tight contest throughout, as both teams needed more than 25 points to seal the deal. The Blazers prevailed 26-24 in the third set and were poised to take the game leading 2-1.
The Tigers unleashed an explosion of points in set four. A kill by Weaver and two service aces by
Paige Miller gave ETBU the impressive 25-10 victory to even the game at 2-2.
In the fifth set, the Blazers responded with an early 6-2 run to gain the lead. The Tigers would not go away as they climbed back into the game within a point at 12-11 off the service ace by
Karina Lay. Belhaven went on to outscore the home team 3-1 over the next four points to take the 3-2 win on the road.
The Tigers will return to Ornelas Gym on Tuesday, Oct. 3 when they match up with rival LeTourneau University. The game is set for 7:00 p.m.
