LONGVIEW -- LeTourneau University's volleyball team put together a late comeback before falling short in a five-set thriller to Austin College Tuesday night. The YellowJackets dropped the non-conference match to the Kangaroos, 25-16, 25-17, 13-25, 14-25, 15-12.

LeTourneau fell to 13-9, while Austin College improved to 10-13 as 'Roos coach Ed Garza recorded his 600th career win.

Down two sets, the YellowJackets opened up a 13-7 lead in the third set on a block by Natalie Connelly and Kianna Crow. Following a pair of Kangaroos points, LETU used a 6-0 run, highlighted by kills from Lexie Welton and Crow, and two more from Connelly, to bump the lead to 19-9. Taylor Smith's kill pushed the margin to 23-11. After the two teams traded points over the next three serves, LETU pulled within a set on another kill by Smith.

LeTourneau converted 76 percent of its sideouts in the third set, while Austin College made good on 40 percent. The Jackets hit .234 in the set, while the 'Roos were held to -.022.

In the fourth, Welton banged down a kill to give the YellowJackets an 11-7 lead. A kill by Smith extended it to 16-10. After Austin College pulled within three, Smith and Mikayla Thomas each had a putaway to make it 18-13. Following a Kanagaroos sideout, the YellowJackets ran off the next seven points to tie the match at 2-2. Natalie Davenport had four of her 54 assists and a kill in the late seven-point surge.

The Jackets banged 19 kills and a .400 attack percentage in the fourth set. Austin College was held to .029.

The Kangaroos opened a 9-5 lead in the fifth set, but on Thomas' serve, the YellowJackets responded with another seven-point run triggered by a pair of Crow kills and a kill and a block by Connelly to claim control, 12-9. But Austin College went on a six-point spurt of its own to close out the match.

Hannah Arbaugh had 14 kills and 11 digs, Christine Royalty 13 kills, and Brooklyn Talley 42 assists and 12 digs for the 'Roos. Crow finished with 17 kills , 18 digs and five blocks. Smith had 13 kills and 24 digs. Welton had 11 kills and two blocks. Thomas had 10 kills. Connelly had eight kills and six blocks. Cam Taylor had a season-high 35 digs. Davenport had three of LETU's four aces. 

LeTourneau hit .173 with 61 kills and 27 errors in 196 swings. Austin College had a .162 attack percentage with 54 kills and 24 errors in 185 attempts. The YellowJackets outblocked the 'Roos, 9-4. Both teams finished with four aces. 

LETU will play in the ASC Crossover II at Concordia Texas Friday and Saturday in Austin, Texas.