ALPINE, Texas – Competing in their first two matches of the American Southwest Conference crossover play hosted by Sul Ross State University, the East Texas Baptist University volleyball team came away with a split on the day. ETBU is currently 9-7 overall and 3-2 in conference play.
 
In the first match of the day, ETBU would sweep host Sul Ross State University Lobos,3-0 (25-14, 25-23, 26-24). Bailey Byas led the way with eight kills while Meredith Augsburger added 14 assists. Karina Lay would post 16 digs just as Alexis Contos collected five blocks.
 
In match two, ETBU would battle undefeated McMurry University to the fifth set before falling 3-2 (25-13, 21-25, 23-25, 25-20, 12-15). Coburn led ETBU in kills with 17 while Byas contributed 12. Sydney Lopez had 16 digs while Elyse Shaw picked up a double-double with 15 digs and 37 assists.
 
Game 1: ETBU 3, SRSU 0
 
In set one after a 1-1 tie, ETBU would storm out with four straight points to ignite a 16-3 run in the first set to lead 17-4. The Lobos would cut the deficit to 17-7 but the Tigers would reach 20 points before the Lobos made it to 10. The lead would extend to 24-12 in ETBU's favor and though SRSU would cut it to 24-14, the Tigers secured the set win with the final point for a 25-14 score.
 
Set two would be tighter as the Lobos would be more involved from the start to grab an 8-4 lead. ETBU responded with four straight points to tie up the score. At 11-11, the Lobos would take control with six straight points for a 17-11 lead. The Tigers would cut into the margin to 19-14 before they would tie up the score at 19 with five straight points of their own. The Lobos would last lead the second set at 21-20 only for ETBU to score three straight points. The teams traded points until it was 24-23 ETBU as the Lobos would serve to attempt to tie the game but ETBU would get that kill to preserve a 25-23 set win.
 
The Lobos would start set three with four straight points before taking a 7-1 lead. ETBU would answer with a 6-1 run to trail 8-7. Over the course of the set, ETBU would come close to tying the game only to have SRSU extend their lead. ETBU would finally tie up the score at 15 and would take the lead at 18-17. Then, ETBU would open up a 23-18 advantage. Down with their backs to the wall, the Lobos would charge back with four straight points. With ETBU facing match point at 24-22, they couldn't stop the Lobos momentum as SRSU tied the score at 24 all. Fortunately, ETBU who would tally the next two points for a 26-24 win in the third set.
 
Game 2: McM 3, ETBU 2
 
In set one after falling behind 3-1, ETBU would rally to tie the score at 4-4. They wouldn't grab their first lead until 8-7 before extending that to as much as 15-8. Another 5-1 run by the Tigers made the score 20-9. The War Hawks would never cut the lead to single digits as they would get as close as 22-12 before ETBU finished McM with three of the final four points for a 25-13 win.
 
Momentum carried into set two as the Tigers started strong going up 5-1. They would push the lead to 8-3 before the War Hawks responded with an 8-4 run to trail 12-11. The game would be tied at 15 before the Tigers retook the lead. McM grabbed their first lead at 18-17 but each team would battle to a 21-21 tie. Then, McM would steal the set with four straight points for a 25-21 win.
 
McM started set three with four straight points before ETBU scored. They would continue to build on the lead making it 8-3 before ETBU started a run of their own to tie the game at eight. The two teams would play tight with McM not building a lead of more than two points. ETBU would catch up and pass the War Hawks at 16-15 for their first of two leads in set three. The score would be tied at 19 when ETBU took their second lead. At 21-19, ETBU surrendered five straight War Hawk points to trail 24-21. ETBU would cut close to 24-23 before McM put the final points up for a 25-23 win.

Needing a win in set four to force a deciding fifth set, ETBU started the set with a 6-2 edge. The War Hawks would even the score at 7-7 and would stay even as ETBU would not once trail in the set. ETBU then went up by as much as four points at 12-8. Again, McM would get as close as two points. But ETBU would extend their lead as they would go up to four points at 21-17. McM cut the lead to two, 22-20, before the Tigers put the final three points on the board, 25-20.
 
Going to the fifth set, ETBU started with the first two points and then would grab a 3-1 lead before the War Hawks tied it at four. At 5-5, McM struck ahead with a lead they would never relinquish. ETBU would get as close as 9-7 before the War Hawks went on a 5-2 run to lead 14-9. ETBU answered with three straight points before the War Hawks ended the contest.