VOLLEYBALL: East Texas Baptist gets past LeTourneau

MARSHALL, Texas – Stormi Champion knocked down nine kills and turned in a hitting percentage of .412 to lead the East Texas Baptist Tigers to a match victory over the LeTourneau volleyball team Tuesday.

Scores of the match were 25-9, 25-12 and 25-16.

LeTourneau outside hitter Jo Runnels (Channelview, Texas/Channelview) knocked down a match-high 10 kills to lead the YellowJackets. Tuesday's contest marked the third match in a row in which Runnels led the Jackets in kills.

Brooke Sheranko (Spring, Texas/Oak Ridge) turned in her fourth double-double of the season for the YellowJackets in their match at East Texas Baptist. Sheranko handed out a team-high 15 assists and also recorded 10 digs for the Jackets.

Kayla Bonina (Carrollton, Texas/Carrollton Christian Academy) led the YellowJackets in digs for the second consecutive match, picking up 11 attacks from East Texas Baptist.

The Tigers could only build an early lead in the first game; the home team had to fend off the Jackets in each of the subsequent two games. The YellowJackets tied the Tigers at 8-8 in game two.

Early in game three, the Tigers jumped ahead 6-3, only to have the Jackets recover and run off three points of their own to tie the game at six. Another three-point Jackets run gave LeTourneau a 9-8 lead.

The Jackets and Tigers then traded points until the score was tied at 12; at that point, East Texas Baptist (4-9) went on 6-0 run.

The YellowJackets return to action this weekend when they make their second trip to Seguin, Texas as part of the first weekend of the American Southwest Conference's Dig Pink Crossover Challenge. The YellowJackets will face West Division opponents Sul Ross State and Schreiner on Friday.

The Jackets will conclude the weekend with a match against host school Texas Lutheran on Saturday.

Matches at the Crossover Challenge will count in the ASC standings. First serve against Sul Ross State is scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday.