AUSTIN, Texas – The Concordia University Texas volleyball team will wrap up American Southwest Conference (ASC) play this weekend when it plays four crucial matches in Belton, Texas.
The Tornados (9-16, 5-9 ASC) will take on Texas-Tyler at 3 p.m. on Friday, followed by East Texas Baptist two hours later. Concordia Texas also will play LeTourneau at 12 p.m. the following day and Mississippi College at 2 p.m.
The Tornados are in search of their first trip to the postseason since 2000. The top six teams in the standings (minus Mississippi College) advance to the ASC Tournament. Concordia, Howard Payne and Texas-Tyler all are battling for the fifth and sixth seeds. The Patriots hold a one-and-one-half-game lead over the Lady Jackets and two-and-one-half games over the Tornados for the fifth seed.
Concordia had put together a season-long three-match winning streak (Oct. 12-18), but it came to an end following a four-set loss to league-leading Texas-Dallas. The Tornados also were swept by Hardin-Simmons in their last outing on Oct. 19.
Sophomore
Katie Baker continues to pace CTX's offensive attack. The Corpus Christi, Texas, native is averaging team highs in points (2.7) and kills (2.39) per set.
Meanwhile, senior
Emma Clifford leads the squad with a .260 hitting percentage and 64 total blocks (0.70/set). The Magnolia, Texas, native also ranks second on the team with 2.52 points and 2.08 kills per frame.
Texas-Tyler (19-9, 8-7 ASC) won two of its three tilts last weekend, including a four-set victory over LeTourneau last Saturday. Breanna Brummett is the league leader with 3.66 kills per panel, while Rebecca Floyd averages a conference-high 10.37 assists per set.
East Texas Baptist (23-6, 12-3 ASC) has won 13 of its last 14 matches, including five straight. Kolby Sharp leads the circuit with a .260 hitting percentage and ranks 10th with 2.53 winners per frame, while Mallory Sanders sits in ninth at 2.55 kills per panel.
LeTourneau (6-22, 1-13 ASC) has dropped 17 of its last 18 matches, including seven consecutive. Dolores Kroese leads the YellowJackets with 2.41 kills per set, while Alli Bordelon owns a team-leading average of 3.38 digs per frame.
Mississippi College (7-17, 3-12 ASC) has picked up victories in two of its last three outings, including a sweep of Tougaloo on Tuesday night. Rachel Janssen's 2.43 kills per panel is tops on the team, while Holly Tupper ranks third in the ASC with 4.78 digs per set.
Concordia is in search of its first wins of the season against the Tigers and Patriots. Texas-Tyler swept the Tornados on Aug. 31 in Seguin and netted a five-set victory on Oct. 5 in Marshall, while East Texas Baptist earned a sweep on the same day.
Concordia swept LeTourneau on Oct. 4 and edged the Lady Choctaws in five sets earlier in the day.
