MARSHALL, Texas - Hosting a rare Tuesday doubleheader at Ornelas Gymnasium, the East Texas Baptist University volleyball team had no problems sweeping six straight sets in both matches to make it seven straight wins for the Tigers. ETBU is now 9-5 on the season following the wins.

Although they won the first match against the University of St. Thomas in three sets, they had to win the latter two sets in close contests (25-14, 26-24, 25-23). Avery Reid was the lone double-digit killer with 10 for the game and was also two digs shy of the double-double. Maddison Harris and Kaylee Morton produced 15 and 10 assists respectively while Kayla Rainey had nine digs.

In their second game, the Tigers never allowed Centenary College into any of the sets as they had a 25-13, 25-11, 25-15 three-set win. This time, Reid recorded a double-double of 11 kills and 10 digs. Rainey came two kills shy of a double-double to go with 13 digs. Morton (17 assists) and Harris (13 assists, three aces) combined for 30 assists.


Game 1: ETBU 3, UST 0

The Tigers had no trouble in the first set as they opened up five straight points before UST got on the board. Despite letting the Celts back within 6-3, ETBU's 10-3 run would grab them a double-digit lead at 16-6. Kiley Smink would be a spark for the Tigers with four kills in the set. UST managed to trail 21-13 before the Tigers finished off the set with a 4-1 run for a 25-14 win.

After getting ahead in the second set 2-0, ETBU allowed UST to go on a 9-3 run to be up 9-5. The Tigers responded with a 10-2 run of their own with kills from Annie Harris, Brooke O'Neal, and Reid while Maddison picked up a service ace. Again, the Celts responded with a run of nine points to lead 20-16 only for ETBU to tie things up at 20. ETBU had set point at 24-23 before UST extended the set. But Reid answered with two kills to end the set 26-24 in ETBU's favor.

Determined to end the match in three, ETBU struck for four of the first five points to lead 4-1. Five straight points from the Celts would then lead to an exchange of points that would go until the score was 18-18. Then, O'Bannon and O'Neal would combine for four straight kills to go up 22-18. The Celts wouldn't go quietly away as they rallied to tie the score at 23. Once again, it was Reid who brought the Tigers ahead, which led to them securing a second point for a 25-23 final.

Game 2: ETBU 3, CC 0

The first set would start off as a battle with both sides combining for nine points with a 5-4 lead for the Ladies. But, the Tigers would turn on the jets with a 9-1 run as Annie Harris and Reid each tallied two kills in the stretch for ETBU to lead 13-6. CC could only get the tally to 15-8 before the Tigers would march up a double-digit lead that wouldn't be relinquished on their way to a 25-13 set one win.

Set two would be like the first set with the difference being CC starting off up 3-1 before the teams brought the score even at seven apiece. The Tigers would then end the set on an 18-4 run. Behind seven combined kills from Rainey, Reid, and O'Bannon, the Tigers would march their way to a 25-11 set two win.

After getting behind 3-2, the Tigers retook the lead and wouldn't relinquish it. Despite letting CC within 5-4, an 11-4 run would extend ETBU's lead to 16-8. The Ladies would make a small run to cut the margin to 18-14. However, it would be Annie on the kill and a pair of Maddison Harris aces that sealed the victory at 25-15.

The Tigers will be back at Ornelas Gymnasium next Tuesday night to take on LeTourneau University.