VOLLEYBALL: East Texas Baptist gets by LeTourneau in Jackets' home finale

LONGVIEW – The LeTourneau YellowJackets volleyball team concluded its season Tuesday with a loss to Piney Woods rival East Texas Baptist in a match that featured hard-fought sets in games two and three.

Scores of the match were 25-11, 25-16 and 25-16.

Tara Wait led East Texas Baptist with 10 kills and Nicole Vanderlaan registered 14 digs for the Tigers.

Jo Runnels (Channelview, Texas/Channelview) knocked down a team-high eight kills for the YellowJackets. Brooke Sheranko (Spring, Texas/Oak Ridge) led the Jackets with eight assists.

Kayla Bonina (Carrollton, Texas/Carrollton Christian Academy) led the YellowJacket defensive effort with 10 digs.

Game two featured six ties and three lead changes between the two squads. The Tigers appeared to take early control of the set with an 8-5 advantage, but the Jackets ran off four points in a row to reclaim the lead.

The Tigers then embarked on a 5-0 run, but they still had to fend off the Jackets. LETU responded with three straight points of its own to remain in striking distance and force an ETBU timeout with the score 14-12 in favor of the visitors.

Following the timeout, the Tigers regrouped and took a comfortable lead thanks to a 7-2 run.

In game three, the Tigers once again took an early advantage, scoring 10 of the first 13 points, but the Jackets refused to go away quietly. The home team proceeded to embark on a 6-3 run and trim ETBU's margin to 13-9.

The Jackets would get within four points one other time in the third set, cutting the ETBU lead to 18-14 thanks to an ace by Kelsie Doran (Seabrook, Texas/La Porte).

With the Jackets playing their final home match of the season, the team honored its lone graduating senior, middle blocker April McCamey (Stephenville, Texas/Dublin). McCamey joined the team in time for the 2011 season and made an immediate impact, leading the team with 48 blocks.

McCamey also registered 78 kills heading into Tuesday's match. Her contributions off the court were just as valuable, as she served as the team's chaplain throughout the season.

The YellowJackets conclude the 2011 season with four matches at the Millsaps College tournament in Jackson, Miss. this weekend. The Jackets face NAIA programs Belhaven and Loyola on Friday at 1:30 and 5:30 p.m., respectively.