MARSHALL, Texas – In their fifth straight home match, the East Texas Baptist University volleyball team fought hard in a three-set loss to Concordia University Texas, 18-25, 19-25, 23-25. ETBU is now 9-8 and 6-5 in the American Southwest Conference.
Kiley Smink let the team with four kills while
Maddison Harris had nine assists and
Lillie Hill with nine digs.
Annie Harris added five blocks. Kylexus Block and Sarah Ghormley had 10 kills for Concordia Texas as Ghormley added 17 digs for a double-double.
Concordia Texas jumped out to a 3-1 lead in set one but ETBU tied it at three with a kill by
Avery Reid and a Tornado attack error. The Tornadoes responded with a 6-1 run for a 9-4 lead. ETBU cut it to three, 10-7, on another Concordia Texas attack error but that is as close as they would get. Concordia Texas made it 16-10 and then 20-13 before taking the set, 25-18.
Set two was tied at two apiece when Smink recorded the kill. Concordia Texas went on a 4-0 run for a 6-2 lead but a service error and
Hannah Perry kill cut the lead to two, 6-4. ETBU stayed strong and came within one, 8-7, on a Tornadoes attack error. They were still one point behind, 11-10, on another Concordia Texas attack error, and then 13-12 on another error. The Tornadoes went on a 3-0 run for a 16-12 lead and made it 19-15 on a block. ETBU pulled with three, again, 21-18, on a
Kaylee Morton service ace but couldn't get any closer falling, 25-19.
It was a back-and-forth scoring affair in set three with several lead changes. Concordia Texas took an early 7-4 lead and then pushed it to 11-7. A 4-0 run by ETBU tied the set at 11 with one kill from
Maddison Harris. Concordia Texas went up one, 12-11, but ETBU went on a 4-2 run for a 15-13 lead as both
Kayla Rainey and Smink had a kill. The Tornadoes came with one, 15-14, but ETBU went on a 4-0 run for a five-point lead, 19-14.
Alexis Mack had a kill and
Jenna Helms produced a service ace in the run. ETBU made it 20-15 on another kill by Rainey. It was at this time that the Tornadoes slowly came back. ETBU was up, 23-21, but Concordia Texas scored the next four points to take the set, 25-23.
ETBU will host #8 Mary Hardin-Baylor at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday in Ornelas Gym.