BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - A historic run for No. 1 East Texas Baptist University came to an end in the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament Elite Eight to No. 8 Berry College, 3-1. The Tigers won the second set in a four-set 25-18, 22-25, 25-14, 25-17 loss to the Vikings. ETBU finishes at 34-1 winning 34 straight games setting a new record for consecutive win streak and wins in a season.
Callie Humphrey recorded 24 digs and
Sydney Temple led the team with 20 assists.
Graycee Mosley tallied 12 kills and added 13 digs as
Lara Hornsby led the team with 14 kills.
Anita Hancock posted a team-high six blocks.
Taylor Poore set the Vikings back with a great serve to open set one, followed by a long rally. Mosley recorded the first kill of the game, giving ETBU a 1-0 start. Berry took the following three points before Mosley recorded an incredible dig, then receiving on an assist from Temple, and cashing in on a kill to make it 3-2. The Tigers and Vikings traded off points before ETBU went on a 4-0 scoring run with kills from both Hornsby and Gooch as well as forcing two Berry errors, making the score 8-6. Berry took an 9-8 lead from an ETBU error and never trailed again in set one. Hornsby had two pivotal kills to bring the score to within one, 11-10, then Berry went on a three-point scoring run to go up 14-10. Hancock recorded two dunks, bringing ETBU back to within two, 16-14. A Vikings run forced an ETBU timeout at 19-16. The Tigers came out of the timeout hot with a Hornsby kill and a block from Riley and Server to pull within one, 19-18. ETBU lost a challenge on the next point, then Berry scored three in a row, putting the Tigers down 23-18, forcing a Tigers timeout. Berry scored the next two points, winning the first set 25-18.
In the second set, ETBU gained early momentum with a kill by Mosley assisted by
Lexi Moody. The teams traded points closely, with
McKinzie Riley and
Katherine Server contributing crucial kills to keep the score tight. Late in the set, the Tigers capitalized on several attack errors by Berry, with Hancock and
Lindsey Gooch successfully blocking multiple attempts. Mosley clinched the set with consecutive kills, wrapping up the set 25-22 to tie the match at 1-1.
ETBU opened the third set with a quick two-point advantage, highlighted by a kill from
Katherine Server, assisted by Moody. However, Berry countered with a run, pulling ahead 10-3, aided by multiple attack errors from ETBU and strong offensive plays from Berry College.
Hornsby and Gooch contributed key kills, narrowing the gap to 11-8. Despite this effort, Berry extended their lead with blocking and service aces, pushing the score to 17-8. ETBU managed a late rally, with Mosley and Riley blocking efforts to reduce the deficit to 24-14. Berry secured the set 25-14, to take a 2-1 lead.
The fourth set began with a swift response from Mosley to level the score at 1-1 following an initial point by Berry. Hornsby played a crucial role in shifting momentum, notching three consecutive points, pushing the Tigers ahead 6-4. However, Berry reclaimed control with a series of errors and strategic plays, extending their lead. Despite a brief rally that saw ETBU narrow the gap with contributions from Mosley and Hornsby, Berry maintained the upper hand. The set culminated with Berry capitalizing on their steady play to secure a 25-17 victory..
ETBU wraps up a historic season with a 34-1 record and five seniors graduating. The historic season saw a No. 1 national ranking for the first time in program history, the third straight ASC Tournament Championship, second straight out-right ASC regular season championship, the program's first NCAA Regional Championship, and a program best 34 game win streak and season record for wins.
