BROWNWOOD, Texas — Finishing out American Southwest Conference play, No. 16 East Texas Baptist University (19-5, 7-1 ASC) swept Howard Payne University (12-10, 2-7 ASC) to the tune of a 3-0 victory on Saturday. ETBU hit .336 with 46 kills and won the sets 25-15, 25-20, 25-14.
Lara Hornsby led the Tigers with 16 kills, 21 points, and four service aces while adding seven digs.
Sydney Temple finished with a team-high 18 assists and six digs.
Sadie Kasowski collected a team-high 12 digs and added nine assists.
Anita Hancock recorded five kills on 10 attacks and added two solo blocks.
Hornsby served three aces during a four-point service run that moved ETBU from a 7-5 lead to 11-5 in the first set. The Tigers continued to add separation, and
McKinzie Riley finished the set with a kill from Temple for a 25-15 win.
ETBU built an early 5-1 lead in the second set behind a Kasowski kill, a
Katherine Server ace, and kills from Riley and Hancock. After Howard Payne cut the margin to 13-12, the Tigers answered with kills from Server, Riley, and Hornsby to move back in front 16-12. Hornsby later had back-to-back kills to reach 24-20, and ETBU finished the set 25-20 on a Howard Payne attack error.
The Tigers moved in front at 4-3 on
Claire Stewart's service ace and built the third set from there. ETBU created its largest separation during
Carleigh Schluter's service turn, scoring five straight points with kills from Hornsby, Hancock,
Ava Bobnar and
Lindsey Gooch to reach 22-9. After Howard Payne fought off set point, Server ended it with a kill for a 25-14 set win.
ETBU finishes the regular season with two road non-conference games next weekend, starting with a trip to Jerabeck Activity and Athletic Center in Austin, Texas, to face the University of St. Thomas (TX) and Concordia University Texas on Saturday, Nov. 7.
SET BREAKDOWN
First Set
- ETBU scored the first three points on two kills and a Peyton LeJeune ace, with Riley and Hornsby finishing assists from Temple before Howard Payne worked back within 6-5.
- Hornsby's serve separated the set, producing three aces and an Allison Sims kill from Stewart as the Tigers moved from 7-5 to 11-5.
- ETBU extended the lead through the middle of the set, reaching 16-7 after a Bobnar kill from Stewart and later 19-9 on consecutive kills by Server and Hornsby.
- Howard Payne scored three of four points to make it 23-15, but a service error brought the Tigers to 24-15, and Riley closed the 25-15 set with a kill from Temple.
Second Set
- After Howard Payne scored the first point, ETBU won the next five behind kills from Kasowski, Riley and Hancock plus a Server ace.
- Howard Payne cut the margin to 6-5, but the Tigers pushed back to 12-7 with a Hornsby ace, a Bobnar kill and blocks by Server and Hancock.
- Howard Payne later scored four straight to get within 13-12, before ETBU answered with kills from Server, Riley and Hornsby. With Howard Payne within 22-20 late, Hornsby delivered consecutive kills and the Tigers closed the set 25-20.
Third Set
- After Howard Payne led 3-2, ETBU moved in front on Stewart's service ace and built a 7-4 advantage behind two Hornsby kills.
- Temple's service turn helped extend the margin from 9-6 to 13-6, with Server and Riley adding kills during the stretch.
- Schluter later served five straight Tigers points, including kills from Hornsby, Hancock, Bobnar and Gooch, to push the lead to 22-9.
- After Howard Payne scored three straight with ETBU at 24-11, Server closed the set with a kill for a 25-14 finish.
ETBU Top Performers
Lara Hornsby
- team-high 16 kills
- team-high 4 service aces
- team-high 21.0 points
- 7 digs
Sydney Temple
- team-high 18 assists
- 6 digs
Sadie Kasowski
- team-high 12 digs
- 9 assists
McKinzie Riley
- 7 kills with no errors on 14 attempts
- .500 hitting percentage
Anita Hancock
- 5 kills with no errors on 10 attempts
- .500 hitting percentage
- 2 solo blocks
