LONGVIEW, Texas – Battling in the American Southwest Conference East Division, the East Texas Baptist University volleyball team couldn't come back from a 2-0 deficit as they dropped the conference match to LeTourneau University, 25-19, 25-22, 17-25, and 25-21. ETBU is now 9-9 overall and 3-4 in ASC East play. 

Natalie Coburn led ETBU with 10 kills while Elyse Shaw had 21 assists and Julia De Los Santos added 22 digs. For LETU, Kianna Crow had a double-double with 15 kills and 11 digs while Cam Taylor posted a game-high 25 assists.

From the start of set one, LETU scored three straight points before ETBU was on the board with two unanswered to trail 3-2. ETBU would tie the score at six apiece only to see LETU answer with a 4-2 run to lead 10-8. Each team would trade runs of four unanswered points for a 14-12 lead by the Yellow Jackets, which they would create a 4-1 run to an 18-13 edge. ETBU would get as close as three points on three different occasions before LETU secured the final points needed for a 25-19 win.

Set two was tight early on as each team wouldn't build a lead more than two points. This would stay until LETU went up, 15-12. The three-point lead was what LETU had for a while until it was 20-17. That was when ETBU would grab the lead at 22-21. However, LETU would steal the set with four straight points to win 25-21.

Needing a win to stay alive, ETBU came out in set three leading 7-3. Yet, an LETU run would grab momentum with a 5-1 run to equalize at 8-8. After trading points for the next eight serves, a 12-12 score suddenly became 19-13 following a 7-1 run by the Tigers. From that point, ETBU would have no trouble finishing off the set as they built as large as a lead of 23-15 before picking up the 25-17 win.

After both teams traded points for a 4-4 tie in set four, LETU would take control with four of the next five points to lead 8-5. ETBU would tie the score and would soon grab the lead at 13-12. ETBU would hang on to this lead while building to as large as 20-17. However, LETU would surge back with an 8-1 run to finish with a 25-21 set four win to end the match.

ETBU will be back in action next Tuesday when they host Texas Dallas on October 2 at 7:00 p.m.