Box Score:


JACKSON, Miss. – Courtney Edge surpasses the 300-dig threshold on the season after the LeTourneau volleyball team defeated Belhaven (25-27, 25-15, 25-17, 25-19) at the Heidelberg Gymnasium in an American Southwest Conference matchup.

The YellowJackets improved to 12-5 overall, 7-3 ASC. Belhaven fell to 2-15, 0-9 ASC.

LETU had 49 kills and 23 errors in 129 swings, creating a .202 attack rate. The Blazers had 37 kills and 23 errors in 138 swings, putting together a .101 hitting percentage.

After falling in a tight first set, the YellowJackets stung Belhaven in the second, holding the Blazers to a .130 attack rate. LETU jumped out to a 13-8 lead after back-to-back putaways from Samantha Winkel and Avery Mabery. A service error committed by Belhaven and a kill by Kianna Crow ignited a 10-1 run. During the run, Reina Lawson was on fire, tallying four serving aces in a row. Allison Smith had a dynamic solo block to extend the LeTourneau lead to 13, 23-10. A late surge by the Blazers shined a light of hope for a comeback, but Smith thought otherwise when she hammered down a kill from Lawson to put the Jackets a point away from match point. LETU tied the match at one after an attack error by Belhaven.

LeTourneau smashed down 12 kills, generating a .214 attack rate in the set.

Despite the Blazers jumping out to a 6-2 lead to start the third set, the YellowJackets utilized a 5-1 run highlighted by kills from Smith and Hannah Payan to tie the contest at seven. A service error by Belhaven gave the Jackets a two-point edge, but a kill by Blazers' Emily Carroll and an error by LETU deadlocked the set at 12. Smith, Crow and Skylar Fowler each had putaways to spark a 5-0 run for the YellowJackets, giving them a 17-12 lead. LeTourneau never looked back as it led for the rest of the set, taking a 2-1 advantage over host Belhaven in the match.

 The Jackets hit a match-high .300, tallying 12 kills in the set.

In the decisive set, LeTourneau pounded down a match-high 13 kills, while holding Belhaven to a match-low zero hitting percentage. Natalie Connelly blasted a kill on the Blazers side of the net, tying the set at 13. Back-to-back kills by Mabery and Smith both from Winkel, pushed the Jackets ahead, 15-14. A 5-0 spurt by LETU propelled the YellowJackets to set point, 24-17. Skylar Fowler smashed down a winner to give LeTourneau the match win.

Inside the Numbers:
Smith paced the Jackets with 10 kills and three blocks, hitting an explosive .625.
Crow and Payan totaled nine putaways apiece. Crow also had 22 digs to lead the team.
Mabery and Fowler pounded eight kills each. Mabery hit .353.
Winkel and Lawson had 21 and 18 assists, respectively.
Edge and Kylie Cobb both had 10 digs.
Crow notches third consecutive double-double.
The fourth set featured nine ties and five lead changes.
LETU had nine serving aces, while the Blazers had six.

Up Next:
LETU continues its four match road trip as it travels to Hardin-Simmons Tuesday at 6 p.m.