MARSHALL, Texas - Looking to build momentum off of their first American Southwest Conference win of the year last Saturday, the LeTourneau University volleyball team could not string together any stretches of long runs in a three set loss to rival East Texas Baptist University at Ornelas Gymnasium in Marshall, Texas on Tuesday, October 3rd. 

LETU falls to 5-13 overall and 1-7 in the ASC with the loss while the Tigers improved to 8-12 overall and 4-4 in conference play. 

The YellowJackets would come out strong in the first set and match ETBU throughout the first set with the largest lead of the set for either team coming at 14-11 in favor of LeTourneau which forced a Tiger timeout. With the score tied at 15-15, East Texas Baptist would score three of the next four points to take an 18-16 lead before LETU would battle back to tie the game at 22-22. AFter trading points to make the score 23-23, East Texas Baptist would score the final two points of the set to take the set 25-23. 

In set two, LeTourneau would fall behind early before tying the set at 2-2, but would get no closer. ETBU would rattle off eight of the next 10 points to open up a 10-4 lead and never look back as the YellowJackets would be unable to pull any closer than 17-13 before the Tigers would come away with a 25-16 set victory. 

With their backs against the wall down two sets to zero, LETU would hang close with ETBU early on and tie the score at seven off of a Tiger service error, but once again East Texas Baptist would make a run midway through the set. Seven of the next nine points would go in favor of ETBU forcing a LeTourneau timeout, but it would be too little too late as the Tigers would pull away for good with a 25-20 set victory to close out the match in straight sets. 

LETU was held to just a .038 attack percentage compared to a .185 attack percentage for East Texas Baptist, while each team recorded three blocks on the night. 

The YellowJackets were led by senior Elyse Wright with eight kills and one block while freshman Hailey Matthews had seven kills and 16 digs. Cameron Taylor had 11 assists while Liz Williams led all players with 17 digs. 

Senior night will be on Friday, October 6th as LeTourneau will host Centenary College and Jarvis Christian College for a triangular meet. LETU will play the Ladies at 3 p.m. before facing the Bulldogs at 7 p.m. Three YellowJacket seniors (Korissa White, Elyse Wright, and Savanna Stutts) will be honored prior to the match against Jarvis Christian.