MARSHALL, Texas — It was a hard fought sweep for No. 20 East Texas Baptist University (16-5, 4-1 ASC) holding off Hardin-Simmons University (11-10, 1-5 ASC) 3-0, 25-13, 26-24, 26-24 on Alumni Day in Ornelas Gym. ETBU hit .260 with 41 kills while holding Hardin-Simmons to .089 on 28 kills.
Anita Hancock led the Tigers with 12 kills on .750 hitting and added three total blocks.
Katherine Server recorded a team-high seven total blocks, along with four kills and a service ace.
Sydney Temple finished with 18 assists, five digs, and a service ace.
Claire Stewart added 13 assists and a team-high three service aces while collecting five digs.
ETBU created separation in the first set with a 6-0 run from a 10-6 lead to 16-6, as Temple served five straight points and the stretch included kills by
Allison Sims,
McKinzie Riley and Server. Stewart served back-to-back aces during the opening push, and the Tigers finished the set at 25-13.
In the second set, ETBU erased a 24-22 deficit by taking the final four points to win 26-24. The Tigers built a 9-3 lead with help from kills by Hancock,
Lara Hornsby and Riley during a 7-of-8 stretch. At the finish, Riley started the closing push with a kill, Hancock followed a Hardin-Simmons error with a kill for a 25-24 lead, and Stewart served the set-ending ace.
ETBU answered a 24-24 tie by getting a Riley kill and a Server-Riley block on the final point to take the third set, 26-24. The Tigers erased an 11-8 deficit with six straight points, including a
Peyton LeJeune service ace and kills from Sims, Hornsby and Riley. ETBU also moved from down 17-16 to ahead 21-18 before closing out the set.
ETBU will have their final home match of the year as they host the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 1 p.m. at Ornelas Gym for Senior Day.
SET BREAKDOWN
First Set
- ETBU moved ahead 7-1 behind Hornsby's opening kill, a Hancock kill, and consecutive Stewart aces.
- After Hardin-Simmons worked the score to 10-6, Sims' kill started a six-point Tigers run, with Temple serving five straight points to help extend the lead to 16-6.
- ETBU kept control late, getting a Hornsby ace for 21-11 and a Sadie Kasowski ace for 23-12 before closing the set 25-13 on consecutive Hardin-Simmons attack errors.
Second Set
- After Hardin-Simmons scored the first two points, ETBU answered with seven of the next eight rallies to move ahead 9-3, getting a Server ace and kills from Hancock, Hornsby and Riley.
- The Tigers stayed in front through a 14-9 lead, but Hardin-Simmons worked back into the set and moved ahead 20-19 on an ace.
- Hardin-Simmons later led 24-22 before ETBU won the final four points, with Riley and Hancock adding kills and Stewart closing the 26-24 set with an ace.
Third Set
- ETBU erased an 11-8 deficit with six straight points, including two blocks, a LeJeune ace and a Riley kill, to move ahead 14-11.
- Hardin-Simmons answered to retake a 17-15 lead, but Hancock had kills on consecutive Tigers points before a Hornsby ace helped push ETBU ahead 21-18.
- The Tigers reached 24-20 on a Server kill and a Temple ace, then Hardin-Simmons scored four straight to tie it at 24-24.
- Riley put ETBU back in front with a kill, and Server and Riley combined on the final block to close the set 26-24.
ETBU Top Performers
Anita Hancock
- 12 kills with no errors on 16 attempts
- .750 hitting percentage
- 3 total blocks, including 1 solo block
- 14.0 points
Katherine Server
- 7 total blocks
- 4 kills with no errors on 13 attempts
- .308 hitting percentage
- 1 service ace
Sydney Temple
- 18 assists
- 5 digs
- 1 kill
- 1 service ace
Claire Stewart
- 13 assists
- 3 service aces
- 5 digs
Lara Hornsby
- 8 kills
- 8 digs
- 2 service aces
- 10.5 points
