SAN ANTONIO, Texas — History was made on Saturday in San Antonio for No. 10 East Texas Baptist University as they moved to a program best start at 11-0 and defeated No. 12 Trinity University for the first time in program history. ETBU went 3-0 in the Trinity University Invite as
Graycee Mosley was the MVP and
Callie Humphrey and
Anita Hancock were named to the All-Tournament team.
ETBU swept Northwestern-St. Paul 25-19, 25-23, 26-24 and then won in four sets over Trinity, 22-25, 25-18, 26-24, 25-15.
ETBU 3, UNW 0
ETBU recorded 10 service aces, overcoming a persistent Northwestern-St. Paul squad who had substantial leads in both the second and third sets. The Tigers' consistent serving and solid defense, which included 46 digs, secured the straight-set victory.
East Texas Baptist opened the first set with a commanding 7-0 run, highlighted by Mosley's kill and
Katherine Server's service ace.
Lexi Moody's assists were instrumental as the Tigers maintained their strong lead, contributing to numerous kills, including Mosley's and Hancock's. Despite a brief rally from Northwestern-St. Paul,
Lindsey Gooch's block, and
Lara Hornsby's kill secured the Tigers' 25-19 set victory.
The second set began with Northwestern-St. Paul jumping to an early 4-0 lead, but the Tigers fought back with contributions from
McKinzie Riley's kill to get on the board. Moody provided multiple assists, including two vital setups for Hancock, who helped narrow the gap with three kills. A critical moment came when Mosley delivered back-to-back service aces, allowing ETBU to take the lead. The Tigers took a gritty win with a tense finish as Gooch and Hornsby combined for crucial points, securing a 25-23 victory for the Tigers.
The third set began with a closely contested battle, as the teams exchanged early points. ETBU's Humphrey shifted momentum midway with a series of impactful plays, including two service aces, contributing to a four-point run.
Sydney Temple later orchestrated a pivotal comeback, delivering key serves and a service ace, eventually tying the score. In the extra points, ETBU capitalized on a critical attack error by UNW, securing a 26-24 victory with a final block from Server and Mosley.
Hancock led the team with 13 kills on 23 attempts, resulting in a .348 hitting percentage and accumulating 15 points. Hornsby contributed with 14 kills from 29 swings, totaling 14 points for the match. Moody provided a strong setting performance, recording 21 assists. Mosley added to the defensive effort with 11 digs while also posting nine kills and three block assists.
ETBU 3, TRINITY 1
For the first time in program history the ETBU defeat the Trinity in their second match of the day. This win marks an 11-0 start for ETBU which is the best start in program history. ETBU recorded 62 kills and 90 digs, overcoming a first-set loss with a strong performance in the remaining sets. Trinity managed 43 kills and 72 digs but was unable to match the offensive output of the Tigers, who secured the match with a decisive fourth set.
Trinity opened the first set with a service ace, but the Tigers quickly responded with a kill by Server, setting the stage for a closely contested set. ETBU built a 7-4 lead, highlighted by a three-point run with contributions from Hancock and Gooch, yet Trinity regained momentum with a streak of five unanswered points, tying the score at 19-19. Despite a late push from ETBU, including key kills from Mosley, Trinity secured the set with a 25-22 victory, closing with a kill.
ETBU had a strong bounce back in the second set securing a 25-18 victory. ETBU's Mosley and Hornsby were instrumental, with Mosley delivering several key kills, and Hornsby notching consecutive kills to close the set. Temple's setting facilitated numerous scoring opportunities, particularly during a decisive 6-0 run that shifted the momentum in ETBU's favor, overcoming an early deficit.
The Tigers could not be stopped with Mosley consistently finding success at the net, registering several key kills from Moody's assists. Despite trailing early due to service aces, ETBU narrowed the gap with a crucial series of points, including a block from Hancock and Hornsby that contributed to a momentum shift. The set remained highly competitive, culminating in a tightly contested finish as Hancock delivered consecutive kills to secure a 26-24 victory for ETBU.
Trinity took an early lead to start the fourth set, but ETBU quickly responded. Mosley was instrumental, recording multiple kills at crucial moments. Hancock and Gooch also played pivotal roles, with Hancock's kills contributing to a 4-0 run that extended the visitors' lead. As the set progressed, ETBU's offensive efforts were bolstered by a series of kills from Hornsby and Gooch, with Moody's service ace setting the stage for Hornsby to seal the 25-15 victory with a final kill.
Pivotal players include
Callie Humphrey who recorded 31 digs across four sets. Moody posted 26 assists and added six digs, contributing significantly to the team's setup play. Mosley tallied 19 kills and 23 digs, accumulating 21.5 points in total. Hancock registered 14 kills with a .684 hitting percentage and contributed with eight block assists, amassing 18 points.
The Tigers will be back on the road on Tuesday facing Centenary College in Shreveport, La., at 6:00 p.m.
