LONGVIEW, Texas -- A five-set thriller on Halloween Night turned into a tough loss for the LeTourneau volleyball team as the YellowJackets fell short in a comeback attempt in a 3-2 (25-23, 21-25, 25-23, 24-26, 15-9) loss to UT Dallas in ASC action inside Solheim Arena.

It was the final home match of the season for LeTourneau (11-13, 7-7 ASC). 

The YellowJackets rallied from down 22-20 and 24-23 in the fourth set as Kaci Monk, Allison Smith, and Yari Ortiz notched consecutive kills to send the match into a deciding set. LeTourneau fell behind 4-0 in the decider, but took a 9-8 lead after a 3-0 spurt that had kills from Faith Keating and Emma Smith.

UT Dallas (10-12, 8-4 ASC) had the final answer, though. The visiting Comets scored the final seven points, including four aces from Bailey Schievelbein, to upend the YellowJackets once again. 

Ortiz tied a career-high with 19 kills while Keating had 13 and Smith had 10. Keating had 14 digs to record a double-double and Smith added seven blocks (two solo, five assisted). Nora Lockhart had a season-high eight blocks and Morgan Nix added to her nation-leading dig total with 41 on the night.

Reina Lawson also registered a double-double with her 34 assists and 16 digs in the loss. Monk had seven kills and five blocks.

LeTourneau had the advantage over UT Dallas in kills (64-62), hitting percentage (.205-.149) , and blocks (15-10). It was a season-high 15 blocks for the YellowJackets as six different players had at least two blocks on the night.

The YellowJackets responded after a set one loss with a 25-21 victory in the second. LeTourneau trailed 8-2 early on, but outscored the Comets 8-1 to gain a 20-15 lead after a combo block from Smith and Keating. The Comets cut the lead to 22-21, but LeTourneau scored the final three points on kills from Monk and Lawson sandwiched around an ace from Keating.

UT Dallas led for much of the third set, but LeTourneau trimmed its deficit to 24-23 on the strength of an Ortiz kill and a block from Smith and Keating. A Stella Ballew kill on the next rally thwarted LeTourneau's comeback attempt in the frame to give the Comets a 2-1 match lead.

Ballew had 15 kills to lead UT Dallas, while Sydney Sabin had 29 assists and Schievelbein added 28 digs.

UP NEXT

LeTourneau concludes the regular season on Saturday in Irving, Texas against Austin College (12 p.m.) and Dallas (4 p.m.).

FOLLOW THE YELLOWJACKETS

Be sure to follow LeTourneau athletics all season long on letuathletics.com and social media at Facebook, Twitter/X and Instagram for up-to-date scores, news, and other information.