MARSHALL, Texas - Down two sets to zero against #23 ranked the University of Texas Tyler, the East Texas Baptist University volleyball team was unable to pull off a comeback as they fell in four sets. ETBU is now 8-6 as this was just regional match as Texas Tyler moves up to NCAA Division II next year.
 
ETBU was led by Sydney Lopez, who produced a double-double with 11 kills and 14 digs while Meredith Augsburger posted a team-high 22 assists. Lizeth Flores and Annie Harris would each pick up three blocks. The Patriots were led by 18 kills from Kaitlyn Budisalovich and Hannah Callison (12 digs), 52 assists from Reighanna Guzman, and 13 digs from Makenna Bartlett.
 
From the beginning of set one, each team would trade points with neither taking a lead of two points or more. With the 6-5 score in ETBU's favor, the difference of the set came when UTT would go on a 7-0 run to lead 12-6. The rest of the set would see the Patriots hang on to that lead while extending to 23-14 late in the set. ETBU would push the Patriots with a 6-1 run to trail by four before UTT closed the set with the final point for a 25-20 set one win.

UTT would score nine of the first 12 points in set two for a 9-3 lead. But the Tigers would cut the deficit to 11-8 and to 13-10 Before the Patriots went on another run to find themselves leading 21-13. The lead was 23-15 in the Patriots' favor before the Tigers would cut the lead to 23-17. Ultimately, UTT got the last two points to preserve the 25-17 win for a 2-0 edge.
 
Determined to come back, ETBU surprised the Patriots by jumping ahead to an 8-4 lead in set three. Yet, UTT responded with a 9-3 run to go up 13-11. The two teams then traded points and would find themselves deadlocked for much of the third set until 18-18. ETBU then took over with six straight points to lead 24-18. It would be four UTT points before ETBU would finally get the set point for a 25-22 win.
 
ETBU and UTT battled back and forth in for the first 20 points ending up tied 10-10. Unfortunately, the Patriots would pull another major run as they would score eight straight points to lead 18-10. ETBU could only make the game as close as 18-13 before the UTT would get the final two of the four points for a 25-15 win to take the match in four sets.
 
ETBU now makes the long trip to Alpine, Texas, for the ASC Crossover Tournament this weekend. The first game starts at 11:00 AM on Friday as ETBU takes on Sul Ross State University.