BOX SCORE

AUSTIN, Texas – The Concordia Texas volleyball team dropped a 3-2 tilt Saturday afternoon against Howard Payne.

Late in the deciding fifth set, the Yellow Jackets (2-6, 1-1 ASC) were in position to serve for match point at 14-13, but a kill by Kelly Farina and a kill from Lianne VanDyke had the Tornados up 15-14 and poised to win the frame. However, after an HPU timeout, setter Cheyenne Lovelady evened the match at 15 on a kill then a CTX rotation error put the Jackets up 16-15. A Tornado attack error gave HPU the 17-15 victory.

Despite a 2-0 lead going into the third set, Concordia couldn't get anything going offensively early on in the fourth. It wound up costing the squad a potential sweep, with the Jackets taking the frame 25-18.

The Tornados (5-6, 1-3 ASC) were able to win the opening two stanzas 25-23 and 25-22.

Concordia was able to stage a comeback effort late in the fourth set, but it unfortunately fell short as Howard Payne evened the match at 2-2.

Farina shared a match-best 17 kills with HPU's Kailey Doering. Carly Custer added 10 kills and 12 digs for a double-double. Farina also posted double-digit digs with 15. VanDyke had 39 assists ant 13 digs, while Lexi Perez had a match-best three aces and led CTX with 27 digs.

The Tornados return to action Friday for the ASC Crossover, held in the Concordia Fieldhouse. CTX will face UT Tyler at Noon, followed by ETBU at approximately 7:30 p.m.

Both Friday and Saturday will be full of ASC Volleyball action with two courts going on simultaneously. The event is free.