MARSHALL, Texas – The Louisiana College volleyball team forced East Texas Baptist reeling for the most of both matches, but the Wildcats couldn't overcome their own mistakes in dropping both matches to the Tigers 3-2 (25-22, 20-25, 21-25, 25-22, 15-13) and 3-1 (25-23, 21-25, 25-22, 25-16) Friday night at Ornelas Gymnasium.

Match 1 – Louisiana College 2 (22, 25, 25, 22, 13), East Texas Baptist 3 (25, 20, 21, 25, 15)

After dropping the first set, the Wildcats rallied strong to take the lead in the match by scoring wins in the second and third sets for a 2-1 Wildcat advantage. Even in the fourth set, the Wildcats led 20-17 with the potential for a match victory looming, but ETBU scored eight of the final ten points to force the decisive fifth set. LC jumped out to a 6-3 lead in the fifth but would later find themselves behind 13-10 before rallying to tie the match at 13-13. But the Tigers scored the final two points to clinch the match.

Aniah Adams led the Wildcats in match one with 19 kills, an ace, and six digs. Sadi Jones finished with 13 kills, an ace, a block solo, a block assist, and 17 digs. Jaslyn Bright registered 11 kills, a block assist, and 15 digs. Paris Babino had five kills, 39 assists, and 19 digs.

Match 2 – Louisiana College 1 (23, 25, 22, 16), East Texas Baptist 3 (25, 21, 25, 25)

Match two started much like match one, with LC falling behind after dropping the first set but again rallying to take the second set to tie the match. The Wildcats had a big start in the second set, scoring on 11 of the first 13 rallies and getting three kills from Abby Revell and two from Jaslyn Bright during the run. LC was able to keep the Tigers at arm's length, even though the lead was cut to just two points at 21-19 at one point, and a Sadi Jones service ace ended the set to tie the match at 1-1.

The Wildcats had an even better start in the third set, getting out to a 6-0 lead following a kill by Royanee Narcisse, and then a 13-3 lead after an ace by I'Nyah Kately. But in a sudden reversal of fortune, the Wildcats saw ETBU storm back to ultimately take the set in the closing rallies. LC would then have to rally from a similar deficit in the fourth set to keep the match alive, and an Abby Revell kill helped pull the deficit down to four points at 17-13, but there would be no comeback as the match was closed out.

Jaslyn Bright led the attack for LC in match two with 15 kills, an assist, and eight digs. Sadi Jones added 12 kills, four aces, and nine digs. Paris Babino had 38 assists, an ace, and 18 digs. I'Nyah Kately finished with 16 digs and an ace.

The Wildcats (1-11, 1-11 ASC) try to bounce back on Monday night on the road at Belhaven in the two matches postponed by last month's winter weather. Opening serve of the first match against the Blazers (3-9, 3-9 ASC) is set for 5:00 P.M. at Charles R> Rugg Arena at Heidelberg Gymnasium.