GEORGETOWN, Texas – Kylexus Block had a career-high 25 digs along with a game-high 20 kills, but it was not enough as the Concordia Texas volleyball team opened their 2021 season with a heartbreaking five-set defeat against Southwestern on Wednesday inside Robertson Gymnasium.

The Tornados, who have seven freshmen this season along with All-American Southwest Conference returner Sarah Ghormley, battled against the Pirates to the final point, but fell short in five sets 25-23, 12-25, 25-18, 26-28, 10-15.

Block, who was an ASC West Second Team selection in her first year with CTX, had a strong start to year two, smashing a team-high 20 kills and was everywhere on the defensive side of the ball, registering a career-high 25 digs. It is Block's most kills in a single match since she had 20 kills against Sul Ross State back on March 16.

It was a back-and-forth contest in the opening set with neither team giving way and were tied at 14-all. The Tornados though, took the lead for good thanks to a 7-1 run that included kills from Ghormley and Savannah Kari and went up 1-0 in the match.

Southwestern answered with a quick second set where the Tornados were unable to find a rhythm and evened the match at 1-all.

Concordia Texas bounced back in the following set thanks to Block's five kills in the frame along with eight digs.

The Tornados held a slim, two-point advantage in the set, but broke it open with a 9-2 run, which included back-to-back kills from Block, to go up 22-13 and went on to capture the set to regain the lead.

The fourth set was another back-and-forth battle for CTX as neither team gave ground.

Block had eight more kills in the set, while Ghormley added five of her 15 kills on the night in the fourth.

The Tornados served for the match three times in the closing moments of the set but were unable to convert and the Pirates forced a decisive fifth set.

In the fifth, CTX fell behind early, trailing 10-3 after an attack error. After a timeout, the team regrouped and reeled off a 7-2 run to pull within two, but were unable to take a lead, falling to SU in five sets.

Ghormley finished the night with a double-double as well for the Tornados, posting 17 digs with her 15 kills.

Meanwhile, freshman Dani Wysocki turned in a spirited, defensive performance, racking up 15 digs on the night in her collegiate debut and Alyssa Legette added a team-high 37 assists.

Concordia Texas will have a quick turnaround, traveling down to San Antonio for the Trinity Tournament. The tournament begins on Friday, when the Tornados will face Texas Lutheran at 12:45 p.m. inside the Calgaard venue followed by a matchup against Whitworth at 5 p.m. inside the Webster gym.

All information about the tournament can be found on the tournament home page here as well as seeing the spectator policy for the tournament here.