MARSHALL, Texas - Back home and playing in front of their fans, the East Texas Baptist University volleyball team provided the Ornelas faithful with a three-set sweep (25-14, 25-8, 26-24) over Howard Payne University. ETBU is currently 3-5 overall and 2-2 in the American Southwest Conference.

Avery Reid (nine kills) and Brooke O'Neal (eight kills) combined for 17 kills to lead the Tigers. Jenna Helms (15 assists) and Kaylee Morton (10 assists) picked up 25 assists between them while Lillie Hill had a team-high 12 digs. For HPU, Mya Ross led the Yellow Jackets with seven kills and eight digs.

Starting off down 4-2, ETBU responded with four straight points to go up 6-4. HPU got themselves as close as 8-6 before ETBU sent themselves off to a 14-9 lead behind two kills by Reid. Three straight Yellow Jacket points put HPU within 14-12, but ETBU would pull away with an 11-2 rally as Kayla Rainey and Annie Harris sparked things with two kills while O'Neal finished with the last two kills for a 25-14 first set win.

Aside from a split of 1-1 early in set two, the Tigers would take command with 14 of the next 15 points for a 15-2 lead. While HPU helped with six attack errors, Reid would be instrumental with three kills in the stretch. All the Yellow Jackets could do was get as close as 13 points on two occasions (18-5, 20-7). Ultimately, the Tigers sealed the set at 25-8.

ETBU appeared to be on their way to the sweep early in the third set leading 8-2. But then, HPU rallied back to grab a 10-9 lead and the two would exchange points before ETBU led 13-12. That was when the Tigers went on a 7-2 run to go up 20-14 with Bailey O'Bannon contributing two kills. The Yellow Jackets refused to go away and strung up a 6-1 run to cut the lead to 21-20. ETBU then got themselves to match point only for HPU to equalize at 24 all. Fortunately, a kill by Hope Shipp and a bad HPU set sealed the win for ETBU.

ETBU will take on Sul Ross State University tomorrow at 11:00 AM at Ornelas Gymnasium.