Bulldogs Fall to Pirates, 3-2

LEXINGTON, KY -- Following two five-set matches on Friday, the Bulldogs opened their final day in the Transy Invite by forcing 2021 NCAA Tournament Qualifier Whitworth University to five sets before falling to the Pirates 25-20, 25-15, 19-25, 29-31, 13-15 Saturday morning.

Texas Lutheran punched first in the opening set Saturday morning, taking an early 10-5 lead before the Pirates clawed back to tie the set 16-16. Texas Lutheran would finish on a 3-0 run to take the opener, 25-20. Maddy Schultz (Richmond/Needville) was an offensive force with five kills in the opening set.

The second set was tight early in a set that saw eight ties and five lead changes, but the Bulldogs rode their momentum to win the set decisively 25-15 - once again led by Schultz, outdoing her opening set by finishing the second set with six kills.

With a sweep within grasp, the Pirates fought back to win the third set 25-19 - dominating the set throughout to avoid the sweep.

With their backs against the wall, the Pirates were able to force a decisive fifth set - taking the fourth set 31-29 in a set that featured six ties and two lead changes.

Coming down to a decisive fifth set, Whitworth took a 10-8 lead forcing a Texas Lutheran timeout. A kill by Tanyse Moehrig (Spring Branch/Smithson Valley) stopped the Pirates 3-0 run, but the Pirates forced TLU head coach Phyllis Fowler to call her second timeout of the set as the Pirates moved to a 12-10 lead. The two teams would go back-and-forth until the Pirates would finally put the Bulldogs away 15-13 to deliver the Bulldogs their second loss of the season.

Tanyse Moehrig and Maddy Schultz each put away a team-high 17 kills. Brylie Nedd (Sealy/Sealy) added eight kills, two service aces, and two blocks while Madison Weisinger (Friendswood/Friendswood) and Emily Mixon (Woodville/Woodville) added seven kills each.

Lexi Morris (Victoria/Victoria West) led the Bulldogs with 25 digs. Shavonne Respondek (San Antonio/Madison) added 16 digs, four kills and matched her career-high of 29 assists and Julia Chew (Cypress/Cy-Fair) added 22 assists.