LONGVIEW, Texas - In a back-and-forth American Southwest Conference volleyball match, East Texas Baptist University fell to LeTourneau University in five hard-fought sets, 3-2 (25-20, 25-27, 26-24, 24-26, 13-15). ETBU is now 2-5 overall and 1-2 in the ASC.
Avery Reid (18 kills, 12 digs) and
Kayla Rainey (12 kills and 18 digs) posted double-doubles to lead the Tigers.
Lillie Hill set a new career high with 36 digs while
Jenna Helms collected 27 assists.
Kaylee Morton also had a strong match recording 19 assists.
After each side traded three points in the first set, ETBU would go on an 11-3 run to open up a 14-6 lead. With ETBU leading 17-10, the Yellow Jackets cut the gap to 21-19. Unfazed, ETBU ended the set with a 4-1 run as Reid and O'Bannon collected the decisive kills to earn a 25-20 set one win.
Despite trailing 2-0 early in the second set, ETBU scores five of the next six points for a 5-3 lead. LETU would push their way back for a 14-11 lead. After the Tigers would even the score at 15, each side exchanged points until it was 20-20. LETU then tabbed four of the next five points putting them at set point. Two LETU attack errors allowed ETBU to tie the set at 24. ETBU went up one, 25-24, and were at set point only to watch LETU respond with three straight points for a 27-25 win.
Ignited from the set before, the Yellow Jackets surged out to a 5-0 set three lead before ETBU would score. While ETBU did get the margin to 8-5, they couldn't stop a middle of the set run by LETU, who extended their lead to 16-8. Again, ETBU rallied with an 8-1 run, including two service aces from Helms. The Tigers kept pace as but LETU was at set point, 24-23, only to see Helms produce two service aces for a one-point lead, 25-24. Morton then gave ETBU a 2-1 match lead with a kill and a 26-24 set three win to go up, 2-1.
Desperate to force a fifth set, LETU started with a 7-3 run in set four. ETBU then rallied to even the score at 11 with Reid tying the score with a kill. Rainey would come up with two kills making it, 14-14. Each team then recorded three straight points for a 17-17 tie. Neither side would take control as the score became knitted at 23. For the third set in a row, the Yellow Jackets were at set point. Once again, ETBU tied the score on a Reid kill making it 24-24. However, two LETU points gave the Yellow Jackets a 26-24 win to force a deciding fifth set.
Trailing 3-1 early, ETBU ran up three straight to go ahead 4-3. The score was tied at 6-6 when LETU added two straight points to lead, 8-6. Down 13-10, ETBU scored three of the next four points to trail 14-13. The Yellow Jackets sealed the win with the final point of the game taking the five-set match, 3-2.
ETBU will return to Ornelas Gym facing Howard Payne University at 6:00 PM this Friday.
