On the final day of the ETBU Invitational, Celt Volleyball had their hands full with two tough matches against East Texas Baptist and Millsaps. Despite competing hard for every point, the Celts fell to 5-2 through seven matches on the year. 

East Texas Baptist

In a challenging matchup at Ornelas Gymnasium, St. Thomas (Tex.) faced a formidable opponent in East Tex. Baptist. Despite putting up a valiant effort, St. Thomas ultimately fell to East Tex. Baptist in a straight-set victory for the Tigers. The final score was East Tex. Baptist 3, St. Thomas 0. Here's a summary of the match:

Set Scores:

• Set 1: East Tex. Baptist 25 - 20 St. Thomas
• Set 2: East Tex. Baptist 25 - 18 St. Thomas
• Set 3: East Tex. Baptist 25 - 17 St. Thomas

Even with the loss, the Celts still had a few standout performances. 

• Trinity Atkins: Trinity Atkins was a standout performer for St. Thomas in this match. She demonstrated her attacking prowess with 7 kills and a kill percentage of 0.25. Trinity also contributed defensively with 7 digs and a block assist, accumulating a total of 7.5 points.

• Karrington Kays: Karrington Kays made important contributions to St. Thomas's offensive efforts. She secured 4 kills and 4 block assists, showcasing her blocking abilities. Karrington's presence at the net was crucial for her team.

• Audrey Cataline: Audrey Cataline, despite facing a challenging opponent, managed to deliver 4 kills. She also added 8 digs and 2 block assists to her stat line, displaying her versatility and determination on the court.

Millsaps

In an intense volleyball showdown at Ornelas Gymnasium, St. Thomas (Tex.) clashed with Millsaps in a closely contested match. The final score was Millsaps 3, St. Thomas 2, with Millsaps narrowly edging out the victory. Here's a summary of the match:

Set Scores:

• Set 1: Millsaps 23 - 25 St. Thomas
• Set 2: Millsaps 26 - 24 St. Thomas
• Set 3: Millsaps 19 - 25 St. Thomas
• Set 4: Millsaps 25 - 22 St. Thomas
• Set 5: Millsaps 15 - 12 St. Thomas

Despite the Loss, the Celts still had strong performances on the day from multiple players. 

• Audrey Cataline: Audrey was the standout player for St. Thomas in this match. She delivered an impressive performance with 15 kills, 6 errors, and 42 total attempts, displaying a kill percentage of 0.214. Audrey also contributed defensively with 10 digs and a block assist, accumulating a total of 16.5 points. Her consistency and determination were crucial for St. Thomas.

• Trinity Atkins: Trinity showcased her skills with 9 kills, 2 errors, and 21 total attempts, resulting in a kill percentage of 0.333. She also made key contributions in the blocking department with a block solo and demonstrated her versatility with 4 digs. Trinity's all-around performance was pivotal for her team.

• Ashlynne Fitzgerald: Ashlynne made significant contributions to St. Thomas's offensive efforts. She secured 8 kills with just 1 error on 23 total attempts, achieving a kill percentage of 0.304. Ashlynne also added 4 digs to her stat line, providing valuable support on both ends of the court.

Up next, Volleyball heads to California for the Cal Lu Fornia Invitational! Follow ustcelts.com for all scores and updates.