MARSHALL, Texas - Looking to tab three consecutive wins, the East Texas Baptist University volleyball team did just that, defeating Linfield College and Howard Payne University 3-0 in day one of the Austin College Tournament. With the victories, ETBU improves to 4-4 overall. The Tigers will face Austin College and Sul Ross State, with the first match set for 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 8.

Bailey Byas and Sydney Lopez each led ETBU with nine kills each while Julia De Los Santos had 24 digs and Elyse Shaw had 22 assists. Reagan Dean had nine kills to lead LC while Taylor Souza had 17 digs and Mattie Kelly had 12 assists.

ETBU 3 LC 0

LC started the first set scoring three of the first four points to lead 3-1. After ETBU tied the game at three apiece, each team would take turns exchanging leads with neither side building more than a two-point lead until the score was tied at 14. ETBU would then have their first three-point lead by scoring four of the next five points to go up 18-15. From that point, ETBU would have momentum as they would finish the first set with a 7-2 run to win 25-17.
 
After trailing the first point in set two, ETBU would regain control as they would jump up to leads of 6-2, 7-3, and 9-5. However, LC would battle back with eight unanswered points and nine of the next 10 to go up 14-10. But again, the Tigers would end the second set much like the first as they would finish with a 15-1 run, including nine straight points to take set two 25-15.
 
Clearly, the momentum carried over into set three as ETBU would take a 4-1 lead after five serves. Although the Wildcats would tie it with three straight, ETBU never lost focus as they would race for five straight points and would never relinquish the lead. LC would cut the deficit to 9-6 before ETBU's next run of 10-2 all but put the match out of reach as they led 19-8. LC would cut the lead to as close as nine points on four occasions, but ETBU would finish the set with a convincing 25-12 victory.  

ETBU 3 HPU 0

The first set saw the Tigers come out of the gate quickly, as Shaw set up Miller for the kill to put the team on top 1-0. The Yellowjackets would tie the ballgame (1-1) but another kill by Miller put ETBU back on top 2-1.
 
Lopez, Miller and Harris combined to score nine of the team's next 13 points as the Tiger lead was pushed to six, at 13-7, over the next several exchanges. HPU would draw to within two (15-13) until ETBU closed out the first set outscoring the Yellowjackets 10-2 down the stretch, taking the first set 25-15.
 
Kills by Miller and Lopez put the Tigers up early in the second set, 4-2. A kill by Harris gave ETBU its largest lead of the set down the stretch, at 21-11. A kill by Lopez sealed the second set, 25-17, for the Tigers.
 
Looking to put up a fight, HPU started the third set scoring the first three points of the contest. ETBU would break the scoring run with yet another kill by Miller off the feed from Shaw to make the game 3-1.
 
The game was knotted at 5-5 until Lopez responded with another kill to give ETBU its first lead of the set, 6-5.
 
Over the next several possessions, HPU would regain the lead in the waning moments of the set (16-15) before ETBU would spark a 6-3 run, capped off by a Harris kill to go on top 21-19.
 
ETBU went on to close out the set and complete the sweep with a score of 25-19. The Tigers have won nine straight sets, and three straight games overall.

Sydney Lopez continued her incredible start to the season, recording another double-double with 15 kills and 14 digs. Paige Miller added a double-double as well, pitching in 14 kills and tying a team-high with 14 digs of her own. Elyse Shaw generated much of the offense with 22 assists. Annie Harris led the way on defense, blocking two shots in the win.

ETBU will conclude the Austin College Tournament on Saturday, Sept. 8 with an afternoon match against Austin College followed by a contest with Sul Ross State. The match is set to kick-off at 12:00 p.m.