TYLER- Candice Hugi saddled 16 kills while Brittany Serrano recorded a double double 13 kills and 19 digs as the Sul Ross volleyball team dropped a five-set 3-2 decision to LeTourenau University in the first round of this week's ASC crossover.
Carly Montero sported 13 kills while McKenna Thomas led defenders with 31 digs. Elizabeth Livingston also had double figures with 13 scoops. Katie Reeves and Livingston supplied 23 and 22 digs respectively in the effort.
The Jackets stretched the first set in a 29-27 victory.
Sul Ross began the opening game on a 3-0 run. The Jackets mounted a 6-0 drive that ended on an attack error by McKenna Thomas giving LeTourneau a 6-5 advantage.
The Lady Lobos grabbed the go ahead on a kill by Hugi and Sul Ross up by a narrow 20-19 margin.
Both teams exchanged leads down the stretch before the set ended on a Sul Ross service error and a Jacket ace which put LeTourneau up for the 29-27 final.
Sul Ross took a 6-5 lead on a bad set by the opposition in the second set. The Lady Lobos would maintain a slim advantage until a hitting error by SRSU knotted the set, 9-9.
The game ended on a 3-0 Sul Ross run which ended on a kill by Hugi giving Sul Ross the 25-22 victory knotting the match at 1-1.
SRSU began the third set on a 3-0 run before a ball handling error ended a 3-0 drive by LeTourneau which tied the game at three.
It would turn into another back and forth affair as the set stretched into a 5-1 Sul Ross drive ending on an attack error by LeTourneau. That momentum carried the Lady Lobos to a 25-21 win and a 2-1 match lead.
Sul Ross would lead by as much as five to begin the fourth set. The Lady Lobos posted a 9-4 advantage off an ace by Thomas.
The Lady Jackets slowly closed the gap and tied the set at 10 on a hitting error by SRSU. A series of ties would spell the story over the final length of the set before LeTourneau mounted a 2-0 run to claim a 28-26 win tying the match at 2-2.
The Lady Lobos struggled offensively as the Jackets started the fifth set with a 4-1 advantage.
LeTourneau relinquished the lead only once but held on for the 19-17 victory and the match win.
Sul Ross is scheduled to play East Texas Baptist Friday evening and close out the crossover against UT-Dallas at 3:00 p.m. Saturday afternoon.
