LONGVIEW, Texas -- The LeTourneau volleyball team returned home for the first time in over two weeks on Tuesday night, but came up on the short end of a 3-0 loss (25-13, 25-23, 25-19) to visiting East Texas Baptist in conference action.

It was the first home match since Sept. 24 for LeTourneau (11-7, 6-4 ASC). ETBU (14-4, 6-4 ASC) took the win to split the season series with the YellowJackets and snap an eight-match win streak by LeTourneau in the all-time series.

Hannah Payan had 10 kills, 15 digs, and two blocks to lead LeTourneau while Avery Mabery Morgan tallied eight kills. Allison Smith added six kills and two blocks with Morgan Nix providing 19 digs.

Natalie Davenport (18 assists, eight digs) and Reina Lawson (12 assists) combined for 30 assists in the defeat.

ETBU jumped out early in the first set and never trailed as the Tigers took a 25-13 set win. The Tigers had 14 kills in the frame and hit .316 as a group and raced ahead to an 11-2 lead to gain early momentum.

LeTourneau responded well in the second set and led 13-11 after a combination block from Kaci Monk and Alexis Bowen Johnson. A Smith kill a few points later made it 18-16 YellowJackets, but ETBU answered with five straight to take a 21-18 lead. A Lawson ace knotted the score at 22-22 before ETBU scored three of the final four points to grab a 2-0 match lead.

Another crucial late-set rally in the third secured the sweep for the Tigers. LeTourneau rallied back and tied the score at 14-14 with kills from Payan and Emma Smith. However, ETBU scored seven straight after that and held off another YellowJacket rally to earn the win.

Graycee Mosley had 17 kills and 18 digs to lead ETBU, while Avery Reid had 14 kills and four blocks. Lillie Hill had a match-high 21 digs and Lexi Moody tallied 37 assists.

UP NEXT

LeTourneau goes out-of-conference on Friday to host Wiley (4:30 p.m.).