RICHARDSON, Texas – Taking the match to a deciding fifth set, the East Texas Baptist University volleyball were unable to clinch a road win at the University of Texas falling 25-22, 19-25, 25-13, 16-25, 10-15. The loss puts ETBU at 11-9 on the season and 4-5 in the American Southwest Conference East Division.
 
Allie Fennell led ETBU with 18 kills while Carley Boswell finished with 14 kills. Cassidy Zellmer (26 assists) and Meredith Augsburger, who finished with a double-double (25 assists and 19 digs), each had over 20 assists while Gabrielle Guy finished with 24 digs. UTD was led by Jillian Via, who had a double-double with 14 kills and 13 digs.
 
Trading points in the first set, the Comets would use a 5-1 run to go up 8-4. ETBU would answer with six of the next seven points to lead, 10-9, with a pair of kills from Annie Harris. The Tigers would keep their lead as they would extend to 21-16 with Fennell leading the stretch with three kills. UTD would tie things up with five straight points only for Harris to deliver clutch kills to give the Tigers a 25-22 set one win.
 
ETBU would only tie up the second set before the Comets took control rolling out to a 10-3 lead. After seeing an ETBU surge to come within four, 11-7, UTD would run off a 7-2 run to extend their lead to, 18-9. The Tigers would again make the set interesting as they managed to bring the score to 23-19 before UTD tied up the match, 1-1, 25-19.

Set three started with each team scoring three points before the Tigers suddenly took over with seven of the next eight points for a 10-4 lead. Boswell would lead the Tigers in this stretch with three kills. The Tigers would continue this momentum as they would reach a double-digit lead at 19-9. The Comets would not be able to respond as the Tigers completed the blowout third set win of, 25-13, putting them one set away from the win.

Needing the fourth set to force a final fifth set, the Comets wasted no time racing out to a 10-2 lead and never looked back. ETBU didn't back down as Boswell, Fennell, and Harris would put the Tigers within four points at 15-11 while Harris would add a crucial service ace to see ETBU within three, 17-14. Yet, UTD would answer back by finishing the set on a 9-2 run for a 25-16 run.

The fifth set would belong to the Comets who took control with four straight points to start the set. ETBU would get within two as Fennell's two kills brought the score to 5-3. But three Comets points would make the Tigers deficit to five points, which they were unable to overcome as they came up short at 15-10.

ETBU will head out to Abilene, Texas, next weekend for their second ASC Crossover Invitational. Their first match will be against Sul Ross State at 1:00 PM on Friday afternoon.