Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

The LeTourneau University volleyball team closed out the ASC Inter-pod Tournament in Clinton, Mississippi with a pair of losses to host Mississippi College (25-23, 25-18, 25-23) and Texas-Tyler (25-18, 25-15, 24-26, 25-18).
 
The YellowJackets (6-22, 1-14 ASC) began the day with a tough three-set loss to the host Choctaws. Freshman Dolores Kroese had a match-high 11 kills to lead LeTourneau; plus, freshman Skylar Horan returned to the lineup, registering five kills and four block assists. Sophomore Sarah Krippner had 26 assists and two service aces; plus sophomore Alli Bordelon had 15 digs.
 
Mississippi College (6-16, 3-11 ASC) had a balanced attack with Sarah Farmer pacing the Choctaws with 10 kills. Rachel Janssen and Natalie Phelan each had eight kills; in addition, Nicole Horton had five kills, and five blocks.
 
In the nightcap against Texas Tyler, sophomore Kayla Ronda had a solid all-around match with a match-high 17 kills to go along with four service aces and seven digs in the defeat; plus, fellow sophomore Alexia Thomas had 12 kills for LeTourneau.

Texas Tyler (19-9, 8-7 ASC) was led by the tandem of Breanna Brummett and Rachael Harvey, who had 13 and 12 kills, respectively.

The match between the two area rivals started with the lead going back and forth until a four-point spurt put the Patriots up 20-16. The statistics showed how close it was with Texas Tyler outhitting LeTourneau by a slight .222 to .205 margin. The Patriots built a quick 9-4 lead in the second set and never surrendered the lead en route to the 25-15 victory.

With a two-set lead, the Patriots took a 19-11 lead but a resilient LeTourneau team rallied to tie the set at 24. To spark the YellowJackets comeback, Ronda had four of her seven kills and the strong service game of freshman Marissa Anderson and freshman Mackenzie Davies brought. With the set tied at 24, Kroese recorded a block solo and Ronda served her third ace of the set to complete the comeback for the 26-24 win.

LeTourneau continued to display strong willpower in the fourth set, despite losing the set by a 25-18 margin. Ronda, Thomas and freshman Elyse Wright each had two kills.

Despite the outcomes, LeTourneau head coach Scott Peluso was pleased with the perseverance of his team. "They continue to play with heart and passion. Today it did not matter the score, they continued to believe in each other and fight for every ball. Winning that third set versus a talented UT Tyler team was a glimpse of who we can become. The fourth set was even more exciting. We almost came back again despite digging ourselves into a hole early. I truly thought they were going to do it again. This is a special group of young ladies and I am very proud of them."

The YellowJackets will next close out ASC play as they travel to Mary Hardin-Baylor for its final Inter-pod Tournament. LeTourneau will face Sul Ross State at 1 p.m. and host Mary Hardin-Baylor at 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 25 and Concordia (Texas) at noon on Saturday, Oct. 26.