September 24, 2010
YellowJackets edge UT-Tyler in five games
LONGVIEW – Sophomore hitter Crystal Read slammed a game-high 19 kills, including the match-winner, as the LeTourneau YellowJackets edged UT-Tyler in a five-game match (17-25, 32-30, 26-24, 19-25, 19-17) Friday at Solheim Arena.
Read (Chino Valley, Ariz./Chino Valley) ended a long rally on the final point as the YellowJackets overcame a 16-15 deficit and scored four of the final five points in the match. She finished the evening with a double-double, adding 15 digs to her 19 kills.
Freshman hitter Jo Runnels (Channelview, Texas/Channelview) added 11 kills for the Jackets while freshman Stephanie Nance (Forney, Texas/Forney) tallied 10 kills for LeTourneau (8-6, 2-1 American Southwest Conference).
Danika Waldrep led UT-Tyler (7-6, 1-2 ASC) with 15 kills.
The Patriots led by as many as four points in the fifth and deciding match before LeTourneau reeled off three straight points to pull to within 8-7. Waldrep came on strong in the latter stages of the fifth match, recording four kills as UT-Tyler arrived at match point with a 14-12 advantage.
However, the 15th and deciding point eluded the visitors until LeTourneau was able to tie the game at 14 thanks to a service error and an attack error by the Patriots.
LeTourneau senior blocker Keasa Johnson (Longview, Texas/Cisco JC) capped a three-point Jacket run with a kill to make the score 15-14 and later helped stave off elimination with another kill to tie the set at 16 apiece. Of her seven kills in the match, four came in the fifth set.
Freshman libero Jessica Zabojnik (Burleson, Texas/Burleson) led the LeTourneau defensive effort with 30 digs, while fellow freshman Brittany Hood (Mesquite, Texas/Richland JC) added 20 digs.
Freshman setter Staci Shaw (Mesquite, Texas/North Mesquite) handed out a match-high 54 assists against UT-Tyler.
The YellowJackets return to action Tuesday when they travel to Richardson to face ASC East leader UT-Dallas. Match time is scheduled for 7 p.m.
