MARSHALL, Texas – It took five sets to settle the battle between the two schools that are just over 30 miles apart as East Texas Baptist University held off Centenary College, 3-2, in Ornelas Gym. ETBU won the first two sets, 25-23, and 25-22, before Centenary took the next two, 25-22, and 27-25. The final set went to ETBU, 15-7, as they moved to 4-1 on the year.

"Our team really worked well together and we were able to run some new plays and try some different things. It really says a lot about our team that we can push through by taking that fifth set showing how we came together as a team," says senior Abby Weaver.

Natalie Coburn led ETBU with a career-high 27 kills hitting .460 overall on 50 attacks. Abby Weaver and Bailey Byas both added 12 kills and Paige Miller recorded a double-double with 10 kills and 27 digs. Elyse Shaw posted a double-double with 34 assists and 16 digs. Meredith Augsburger added 22 assists and Gabriell Guy had 22 digs. Centenary's Hailey Lawson recorded 20 kills and 15 digs while. Desiree Frey had 19 kills and 14 digs.

ETBU jumped out to a 10-6 lead in set one only to see Centenary tie it at 14 and taking a two-point lead 17-15. Both teams battled to a 22 all tie before two Centenary attack errors and a Weaver kill gave ETBU the first set win. ETBU charged out again to a 10-5 lead in set two only to see Centenary mirror set one and tie it at 16. ETBU then held a one-point lead 23-22 when Allison Sevening and Weaver had back-to-back kills to go up 2-0 in the match.

Sets three and four did not go the way ETBU had planned as they fell, 25-22, and 27-25 in both setting up the decision set to 15. Once again, ETBU ran out to a 7-1 lead but Centenary didn't go away easy pulling to within three, 8-5. ETBU won the next three points and then Weaver made it 14-7 on a kill. Shaw's service ace ended the match as ETBU won their first game of the year in Ornelas Gym.

ETBU travels to Georgetown, Texas, this weekend to face three top teams at the Southwestern University Classic.