Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Playing in its first American Southwest Conference matches of the 2013 season, the LeTourneau University volleyball team dropped a pair of tough decisions to Hardin Simmons, 25-17, 25-16, 25-15 and Howard Payne, 18-25, 24-26, 25-20, 25-15, 15-6) in ASC Volleyball Week I.

The YellowJackets (5-8, 0-2 ASC) began the day facing a hot-hitting Hardin Simmons squad, who hit .286 in the win. Sophomore Kayla Ronda paced the attack for LeTourneau, who hit .044, with nine kills en route to a .227 hitting percentage.

Hardin Simmons (6-7, 1-0 ASC) got a match-high 13 kills from Tori Martinez and the Cowgirls got 10 service aces in the win including five from Tucker Smith.

LeTourneau started the match with an early 3-0 lead before a 10-2 run by Hardin Simmons put them in front by a 10-5 margin and for the rest of the set. In the set, Ronda had four kills to pace LeTourneau. In the second set, Cowgirls led from start to finish and controlled the action with a .333 hitting percentage to .083 for the YellowJackets.  In the third set, the two teams exchanged side outs until a 7-1 run by Hardin Simmons early into the set put the Cowgirls in front and Martinez had eight kills to complete the straight-set win.

In the nightcap against Howard Payne (9-2, 2-0 ASC), LeTourneau won the first two sets before HPU came back to win the final three to win the contest.

In the matchup of Yellow Jackets, LETU freshman Dolores Kroese had her fourth double double of the season with 12 kills and 18 digs and teammate sophomore Kayla Ronda had her fourth double double with 11 kills and 16 digs. Freshman Elyse Wright added 10 kills to an attack that had 49 kills in the defeat.

In the first set, it was controlled by LETU as they outhit HPU, .172 to -.030 for the early momentum. Freshman setter Alyssa Eden set up a balanced attack with Ronda and sophomore Alexia Thomas each recording three kills. In addition, LETU had four service aces with sophomore Alli Bordelon recording a pair.

In the second set, LETU dominated from the onset with an early 10-3 lead. They withstood a HPU rally as they eventually took the lead but LETU had an answer. Facing a 22-19 deficit, Kroese delivered a kill and Eden recorded a service ace to provide a spark their teammates which prompted a HPU timeout. After the timeout, HPU inched closer and were denied set point at 23-24 by LETU on the first of two kills by Elyse Wright.  On the next rally, Wright delivered another kills to give LETU a 25-24 lead. Then, Ronda delivered her fourth kill of the set to put LETU ahead two sets.

In the third set, LETU raced out to an early 6-0 lead before HPU rallied to eventually take a 15-14 lead. After taking the lead, HPU failed to give up the advantage and went on to win the set by a 25-20 margin. The rally provided HPU a boost of momentum as they jumped out to an 11-4 lead en route to a 25-15 victory. In the final set, another quick start by HPU put them up 7-1. Playing to only 15, LETU was able to cut the deficit to six, 11-5, but they were unable to complete the comeback.

LeTourneau will return to action on Saturday and face host UT-Dallas at noon at the UTD Activity Center.