MARSHALL, Texas — Capturing their third-straight American Southwest Conference Tournament Championship, No. 1 East Texas Baptist swept Hardin-Simmons, 3-0. ETBU is now 31-0 and remains the top ranked team in the nation heading into the NCAA Tournament.
The Tigers achieved 55 kills and a .322 hitting percentage with 49 assists and 53 digs. Graycee Mosley led ETBU with 19 kills and 10 digs, while Lexi Moody recorded 20 assists. Callie Humphrey collected 16 digs, and Sydney Temple recorded 22 assists. Lara Hornsby gave 13 kills as Anita Hancock had eight kills and two blocks.
Leigh Jesperson led the Cowgirls with 10 kills and 10 digs, while LIz Keidl added eight kills and two digs. Keaytn Rodgers dished out 17 assits, while Kat Martinez anchored the back row with 11 digs.
ETBU opened the first set with a strong offensive performance, highlighted by a 5-0 run that included kills from Lindsey Gooch and Hancock, pushing the score to 6-2. Despite a surge from Hardin-Simmons that brought the score to 12-12, ETBU regained control with a kill by Katherine Server. The Tigers and Cowgirls fought hard, with the lead swinging back and forth, but ETBU ultimately prevailed with a 26-24 victory.
The set one momentum carried over as the Tigers dominated the second set 25-16. ETBU gained momentum early with Mosley and McKinzie Riley cashing in on kills, both assisted by Lexi Moody, establishing a 2-0 lead. Despite a brief challenge from the Cowgirls that tied the score at 4-4, ETBU responded with a series of kills from Hornsby and Riley, swinging the score to 10-8 in their favor. ETBU continued to widen its lead, with Mosley contributing multiple kills, supported by defensive plays, including a crucial block by Server and Hornsby. The set closed with a kill by Moody, securing a 25-16 victory.
The three-time ASC champs capitalized on several key moments in the third set, with Mosley and Hornsby leading a strong offensive effort. ETBU was down by as many as five points, 11-6, but battled back. Mosley contributed critical kills, including a pair in quick succession that helped ETBU level the score at 21-21. Hornsby delivered a kill to push the score to 25-24, ETBU capitalized on an attack error to close the set, winning 27-25.
ETBU will now wait to see what happens for the NCAA Tournament as they make their third straight appearance.
2025 ASC Volleyball All-Tournament Team
Kendall Harrington, UMHB
Brooke O'Neal, HPU
Kat Martinez, HSU
Liz Keidl, HSU
Callie Humphrey, ETBU
Lexi Moody, ETBU
- Most Valuable Player - Graycee Mosley, ETBU