MARSHALL, Texas—It was another historic week for No. 2 East Texas Baptist University, which went 2-0 on the road. They opened up play on Tuesday with a win over Centenary College and then swept the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor on Saturday in their first American Southwest Conference match. The Tigers are 13-0 for the first time in program history and head to Abilene to face Hardin-Simmons on Friday at 6:00 p.m. and then to Brownwood to take on Howard Payne at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday.
Here are the game notes for this weekend's matchup.
The Basics
The No. 2-ranked East Texas Baptist University Tigers (13-0 overall; 1-0 ASC) will head to Abilene this Saturday to face Hardin-Simmons (10-2 overall; 1-0 ASC). The match will take place at the Mabee Complex on Hardin-Simmons' campus. The match will begin at 6:00 p.m. and is ETBU's second conference match.
Immediately after facing Hardin-Simmons, the Tigers will head to Brownwood on Saturday to face Howard Payne (7-6 overall; 0-1 in ASC). The match will take place at the Brownwood Coliseum at 1:00 p.m.
Wrangling in Abilene
ETBU is 29-14 against the Cowgirls and has won its last nine matches against them, with its last loss in 2019. This is the Tigers' longest win streak against HSU; their previous streak was eight wins from 2000 to 2005.
Facing HPU
The Tigers have accrued 32 wins and two losses against Howard Payne, achieving their longest win streak against any conference opponent. It has been over a decade since ETBU lost to the Yellow Jackets, with their last loss in 2011.
Two High to Deny
The East Texas Baptist University Tigers have again hit their highest ranking in program history this season, jumping from the number five spot to number two in the American Volleyball Coaches Association NCAA Division III Poll. The Tigers started the season ranked number 14.
Road Warriors
ETBU has been on the road for nine of its 13 matches this season. It will play six more away matches before coming home on October 9th. They open American Southwest Conference play, facing all their conference opponents on the road. They already beat UMHB in Belton last Friday and face HSU and HPU on their home courts this Friday and Saturday.
A Grand Accomplishment
Callie Humphrey and
Lexi Moody both achieved significant career milestones this season. Humphrey completed her 1,000th career dig against Centenary and
Lexi Moody accomplished her 2,000th career assist.
Freshman Phenom
With a team full of upperclassmen, Freshman
Lara Hornsby has become a major contributor for the Tigers. Playing in every match this season, Hornsby has achieved 125 kills, 42 digs, nine total blocks, totaling 135 points.
Face of the ASC
ETBU has had a player named the American Southwest Conference Player of the Week for three of the four weeks this season. The Tigers have swept both offensive and defensive awards in two of the four weeks, with
Graycee Mosley winning offensive and
Anita Hancock winning Defensive in week one, and Hancock winning Offensive and
Callie Humphrey winning Defensive in week three.
This Week,
Graycee Mosley was named offensive player of the week after a 31-kill week and a .311 hitting percentage against Centenary and UMHB, which resulted in her 60th and 61st career double-doubles.
Tigers with Tenure
All of the Tigers' statistical leaders are upperclassmen. Senior
Graycee Mosley leads the team with 192 kills. Senior
Lexi Moody leads the team in assists with 218, followed closely by Junior
Sydney Temple with 193. Mosley also leads in service aces with 20, followed by senior
Callie Humphrey with 14. Junior
Anita Hancock leads the team in blocks with 6,0 and Humphrey leads the team in digs with 170. ETBU's senior class includes five players:
McKenzie Mansell,
Callie Humphrey,
Taylor Poore,
Graycee Mosley, and
Lexi Moody. Four of the five have been four-year starters for the Tigers.
Mosley File
Three-time ASC Most Valuable Player
Graycee Mosley heads into week four with 62 career double-doubles. The 13-time ASC Player of the Week is third on ETBU's all-time kills list and ninth in all-time digs.
'Hey Now, You're an All Star'
Head Coach
Mallory Matthews, the reigning ASC Coach of the Year, enters 2025 with five returning All-ASC players —
Graycee Mosley,
Anita Hancock,
Lexi Moody,
Callie Humphrey, and
McKenzie Mansell. Mosley is the three-time ASC MVP, Moody was the 2024 ASC Setter of the Year, and Humphrey the 2024 ASC Newcomer of the Year.
Put a Ring on it
In early September, the Tigers received their 2024 ASC Championship ring at Ornelas Gymnasium in their home opener.
Business Trip (Sept. 16, 19)
ETBU went back on the road, sweeping Centenary in Shreveport, LA, on Tuesday night. Then, the Tigers returned to Texas, opening conference play against UMHB, winning 3-0 in Belton.
Historic Weekend (Sept. 12-13)
ETBU went 3-0 at the Tiger Classic hosted by Trinity Texas, defeating Whitworth (3-1), UNW (3-0), and Trinity (3-1). The Tigers broke two program records. Beating No. 12 Trinity Texas for the first time in program history and going 11-0 for the first time.
Hometown Heroes (Sept. 5-6)
The Tigers went 4-0 in their home opener, winning every match in three sets. Last year, they posted a 29-match streak that ended in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. They carry a 30-match regular-season home winning streak and a 29-match regular-season win streak into week three of play. The Tigers have not lost a regular-season home match since 2022, when they fell 3-2 to LeTourneau.
Cool in Colorado (Aug. 29-30)
ETBU opened the season by going a cool 4-0 in the Pikes Peak Challenge hosted by Colorado College. The Tigers started off the weekend by beating Edgewood 3-0 and then played a close 5-set match with no. 22 Wisconsin-Eau Claire. ETBU then took on host Colorado College in a 3-1 victory, ending their time with a 3-0 sweep against Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
On the Air
The Hardin-Simmons match will be livestreamed on their athletics page and is linked
here.
Sidearm Sports will provide statistics for the Howard Payne match, which can be accessed
here.
