ABILENE, Texas - Battling their way to a fifth set victory, the East Texas Baptist University volleyball team managed to win their match on the first day of the American Southwest Conference Crossover Invitation over Sul Ross State University, 21-25, 26-24, 25-23, 18-25, 15-11. The Tigers are now 12-9 overall and 5-5 in the ASC East.
 
Leading ETBU were Bailey Byas and Carley Boswell, who posted 14 and 11 kills respectively. Cassidy Zellmer (29 assists) and Meredith Augsburger (21 assists) each had over 20 assists while Savannah Stanley reached 33 digs. Annie Harris and Kennedy Peacock both produced three blocks.
 
Both teams started off trading points for the first 22 serves in set one. Tied at 11, the Lobos would break away with five straight points to go ahead 16-11. While the Tigers would only manage to get within four, 18-14, the Lobos extended their lead to 20-14 and never looked back as they finished the set 25-21.
 
The second set saw ETBU struggle through a deficit early on until they were able to even the score at eight on a Lizeth Flores kill. The teams would then trade points as there were 15 ties and eight lead changes throughout the second set. Peacock's kill evened the score at 20 before the Lobos ran off three of the next five points for a 23-22 lead. ETBU would grab the lead at 24-23 only for the Lobos to extend the set with a tie. But the Tigers recovered and ended the set with two straight points for the 26-24 win.
 
The third set didn't begin well for ETBU as they fell behind 12-5. Facing a 2-1 deficit if they lost, the Tigers stormed back to grab the lead with a 10-1 run to go up, 15-13. ETBU would extend their lead to 24-19, but SRSU would run off four straight points to trail 24-23 as they looked for another set extension. Harris would prevent any chances to extend the set as her kill gave ETBU the 25-23 win and a 2-1 lead in the match.
 
SRSU began the fourth set with a 4-1 lead before ETBU would cut the deficit to 7-6. Ironically, the Tigers would never grab the lead as they managed to get as close as 13-12. Following two Lobo points and an ETBU timeout, SRSU kept the momentum as they sealed the fourth set at 25-18 with a 10-6 run.
 
Surrendering the first point of the fifth set, ETBU ran off five straight points with Allie Fennell picking up two kills. The four point lead stood as each team swapped sides with the Tigers up 8-4. They would extend it to as much as 11-4. While the Lobos did put together a last surge to trail 14-11, Ainsley Reeve put the finishing touches with a kill to end the contest at 15-11 for the match win.
 
ETBU will face both Hardin-Simmons (10:00 AM) and McMurry (4:00 PM) tomorrow in Kimbrell Arena to complete the crossover.