JACKSON, Miss. - Despite some tough challenges by the Belhaven University Blazers, the East Texas Baptist University volleyball team came out with a three-set sweep in Jackson, Miss. on Tuesday night. The Tigers have evened their record at 5-5 and are 4-2 in conference play.

Brooke O'Neal was the top killer with nine for the night. Kaylee Morton posted a team-high 13 assists and five service aces while Maddison Harris (six) and Jenna Helms (five) combined for 11 assists. Bailey O'Bannon provided a five-block performance. Lillie Hill finished with 13 digs to top all Tiger players.

The Tigers dug themselves into a 6-3 hole early in the first set. After knotting the score up at six, ETBU locked themselves in an exchanging of points battle for the next 22 serves until the score was tied at 21. ETBU was helped by four service aces while BU recorded five blocks in that first set. The Blazers would commit two critical attack errors that allowed ETBU to seize the first set at 25-21.

ETBU surged out in front 5-1 to start the second set. BU responded with six of the next seven points to go ahead 7-6. Trailing 10-9, the Tigers took control with a 13-1 rally bringing them up 22-11. O'Bannon and Shipp contributed two kills in the stretch while the former secured two of the four total blocks with the other two coming from Alexis Mack and Kiley Smink. BU failed to cut the margin to single digits as ETBU pulled off a 25-15 set two win.

Needing a set three win to keep the match going, the Blazers pulled out in front 7-4 early on. ETBU answered back with a 7-4 run of their own to even the match at 13. Then, the Tigers would score five straight points, including a kill from Libby Gear and service aces from Hill. BU would only get as close as 18-15 and ETBU stretched the lead with another five straight points, only to let BU back within four. The Tigers would finish BU off with a 25-19 set three win to win their third straight match.

ETBU will now take on McMurry University this Friday night at 6:00 PM in Abilene.