MARSHALL, Texas – Opening up the 2021 fall season in Ornelas Gym, the East Texas Baptist University volleyball team dropped a four-set match to the University of Dallas (25-23, 24-26, 18-25, 22-25) and is 0-1 to start the year.
 
Megan O'Neal led ETBU with eight kills while Bailey O'Bannon and Avery Reid each had seven kills. Jenna Helms recorded 21 assists in her first game in an ETBU uniform while Lillie Hill added 22 digs. For UD, Cassie Dyoub (16 kills, 13 digs) and Larissa Ramirez (36 assists, 21 digs) each had a double-double.
 
After opening with a 4-2 lead in the first set, ETBU watched as UD collected four straight points to lead 6-4. Following a tie, the Crusaders ran off a 5-0 run to grab an 11-6 lead only for ETBU to answer with five straight of their own. Three straight consecutive points gave ETBU a 15-12 lead which they would use for the rest of the set holding off a late UD surge to win, 25-23. 
 
The second set saw each team start with three points in six serves. ETBU then had a 4-1 run to go up 7-4 but conceded 11 of the next 14 points to trail, 15-10. A 6-1 answer by ETBU knotted things at 16. The score then was tied at 19 until UD was at set point at 24-22. A kill by Avery Reid and a mistake by the Crusaders extended the set, but UD bounced back with two straight to even the match with a 26-24 win. 
 
In set three, both teams started splitting four points in eight serves. The turning point of the set happened when the Crusaders went on a 15-5 run for a 10-point lead, 19-9. ETBU did produce a rally to cut the lead to three, 20-17, but were unable to get closer as the Crusaders' 5-1 run grabbed a 25-18 set three win.
 
Needing a must-win fourth set, the Tigers would trade points with UD until they had a 6-5 lead. The Crusaders would pick up five points to lead 10-7 to retake the lead. After ETBU knotted the score at 11, the exchange of points went on for 22 serves with key kills coming from O'Bannon, Brooke and Megan O'Neal. Once UD, took the lead at 23-22, they tacked on the final two points to seal their win.
 
ETBU will travel to San Antonio to compete in the Trinity University Invitational this weekend with three matches. They will face TU at 3:00 PM before playing Texas Lutheran at 6:00 PM on Friday and Hendrix College on Saturday.