MARSHALL, Texas – Following a return from their longest road trip of the season at Alpine, Texas, the East Texas Baptist University volleyball team will have their shortest road trip of the year as they head to LeTourneau University just 30 minutes away. This will be their only match of the week.
Last week, ETBU went 1-3 with their lone win coming against Sul Ross State University in three straight sets. ETBU would fall to the University of Texas Tyler in four sets on Tuesday to start the week at home and then would drop five-set matches to both Hardin-Simmons University and McMurry University in Alpine, Texas. ETBU is 9-8 overall and 3-3 in the American Southwest Conference East Division.
Still in the lead for the team with 166 kills is Sydney Lopez while Bailey Byas is second with 131. Elyse Shaw has compiled 330 assists to lead the Tigers while Annie Harris is ETBU's top blocker with 36 blocks. Julia De Los Santos also leads with 220 digs.
This will be the 36th meeting between ETBU and LETU. The rivalry has been lopsided as ETBU holds a 32-3 edge all-time, including last season's sweeps.
Even if the rivalry has favored ETBU, head coach Keely Peterson will be expecting a tough environment to compete at, especially for the freshmen on her team. "It's always difficult to go play at LeTourneau," said Coach Peterson. "It has its own unique set of obstacles. It's a small gym, but their fans are crazy. They get out there and just support. They scream and holler and it's kind of fun. It's a fun environment, but for the freshman coming in, it could be a little intimidating."
The Yellow Jackets are 5-9 this season and 2-4 in the East Division as they enter Tuesday night's match. Kianna Crow leads LETU with 183 kills and is second with 159 digs while Audrey Galindo leads with 170 digs. Cam Taylor has posted 261 assists while Torie Langston is the top leader in blocks with 28.
In spite of the struggles that LETU enters with, Coach Peterson has been impressed with the Yellow Jackets' ability to bring in players contributing to their season. "They're head coach has done a really good job of bringing in some top notch recruits," said Coach Peterson. "She's got a freshman that's just really kind of running it and she will be a huge factor for them continuing for these next four years. She's doing some really great things there. That program is really starting to turn a leaf. You're starting to see things from them that are kind of exciting on that side. It's always fun to compete with LeTourneau. It's sort of a crosstown rivalry thing. We're excited to go and have a great match."
The game will get started at 7:00 PM.
