BELTON, Texas — It was a heartbreaking loss for East Texas Baptist University to the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor 3-1 on Saturday in Belton. ETBU rallied from a 23-18 deficit to a 24-23 lead in the fourth set, but the push was not enough to change the match outcome. ETBU is now 11-4 and 2-1 in the American Southwest Conference as it is their first conference loss since 2023.
Anita Hancock finished with 12 kills, hit .455 and totaled 15 points with four blocks.
Sadie Kasowski collected 19 digs and added two service aces.
Sydney Temple posted 22 assists, five digs and one ace, while
Lara Hornsby added nine kills, 12 digs and an ace. ETBU finished with 48 kills, 61 digs and five aces with 10 total blocks.
ETBU's biggest stretch in set one came after Mary Hardin-Baylor led 18-9, as the Tigers scored seven straight points to pull within 18-16.
Claire Stewart served during six of those points, with Hancock and
McKinzie Riley combining on a block and Riley adding a kill during the run. Mary Hardin-Baylor steadied after that push and took the opening set 25-20.
After Mary Hardin-Baylor tied set two at 14, Riley put ETBU back in front with a kill, and
Sydney Temple served through a five-point stretch that moved the score to 20-14.
Katherine Server had a kill and Temple added an ace during that run, helping the Tigers create the separation they needed. Riley later delivered the final two ETBU points on kills to close a 25-20 set win.
ETBU opened set three with a 4-1 edge after Kasowski's ace and blocks involving Riley and Server. Mary Hardin-Baylor moved in front midway through the set, and although Hornsby's ace brought the Tigers to 12-13, the home side later led 21-16 before kills from Hornsby
Anita Hancock. Mary Hardin-Baylor closed the set 25-19 on an ETBU attack error.
The Tigers erased a 23-18 deficit in the fourth set with a six-point push, moving in front 24-23 when
Allison Sims put down a kill from Kasowski during her service run. Mary Hardin-Baylor answered with the final three points, leaving ETBU with a 26-24 set loss.
ETBU hosts Centenary College (LA) at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6, at Ornelas Gym.
SET BREAKDOWN
First Set
- ETBU fell 25-20 in the opening set after Mary Hardin-Baylor held a 16-11 edge in kills and recorded the set's only two service aces.
- The Tigers used a seven-point run to cut a 10-point deficit to two, moving from down 18-9 to within 18-16.
- Anita Hancock led ETBU with three kills, while Lindsey Gooch, Lara Hornsby and Allison Sims added two apiece.
Second Set
- ETBU won the set 25-20 and recorded 14 kills to Mary Hardin-Baylor's nine.
- The Tigers used a 6-0 run to move from a 14-14 tie to a 20-14 lead; Sydney Temple served the final five points of that stretch, including an ace and a Katherine Server kill.
- Lara Hornsby led ETBU with four kills, while Server and McKinzie Riley added three apiece; Carleigh Schluter assisted on eight kills.
Third Set
- ETBU dropped the set 25-19 after Mary Hardin-Baylor used four straight points to move from a 10-9 ETBU edge to a 13-10 lead.
- ETBU totaled 11 kills, with McKinzie Riley, Katherine Server, Anita Hancock, Sims and Lara Hornsby recording two apiece.
- Sydney Temple assisted on eight of ETBU's 11 kills.
- ETBU produced three service aces and three block points, while Mary Hardin-Baylor finished with 12 kills.
Fourth Set
- ETBU rallied from a 23-18 deficit to take a 24-23 lead, with Sadie Kasowski serving the final five points of that 6-0 run.
- Mary Hardin-Baylor answered with the last three points to take the set 26-24.
- Anita Hancock led ETBU with five kills in the set, while Lindsey Gooch added three.
ETBU Top Performers
Anita Hancock
- team-high 15.0 points
- team-high 12 kills on .455 hitting
- 4 total blocks, including 2 solo
Sadie Kasowski
- team-high 19 digs
- 2 service aces
- 3 assists
Sydney Temple
- team-high 22 assists
- 5 digs
- 1 service ace
Lara Hornsby
- 9 kills
- 12 digs
- 1 service ace
Katherine Server
- 8 kills
- 4 total blocks, including 1 solo
- 10.5 points
