Box Score Sophomore Sarah Barker hit a career milestone on Thursday evening in Marshall, Texas as the 11th-ranked Colorado College volleyball team suffered its first loss of the season in a 3-2 loss to East Texas Baptist University.
 
Barker become the 13th player all-time to earn 1,000 digs during her career as a Tiger. In just two seasons Barker has tallied 1,006 assists as she led the team with 21 assists against East Texas Baptist.
 
Junior Keli Sherwood led the Tigers' defense at the net tying her career-high eight blocks with a career-high four solo blocks along with four block assists. The Middle hitter also put down 10 kills during the match for a season high.
 
The Tigers were off to a slow start offensively during the first set, hitting a .028 attack percentage in the 25-15 loss. CC hit seven kills on 36 attempts with six errors.
 
The Tigers came back swinging in the second set with 17 kills on 42 attempts with just four errors for a match-high .310 hitting percentage. CC won the set, 25-19 as it held East Texas Baptist to a .068 attack percentage.
 
Senior Courtney Birkett led the team offensively with a team-best 14 kills, while adding 16 assists and nine digs. Junior Abbe Holtze added 14 digs and seven kills to aid the Tigers.
 
The third set was tied at 6-6 when Barker set up a ball for Birkett to put down. Birkett's kill sparked an 11-0 run to help give CC a 17-6 lead. The Tigers won the set handedly, 25-14, when Holtze hit a kill for match point.   
 
East Texas Baptist jumped out to an early 4-1 lead in the fourth set as CC was unable to find its rhythm offensively. The ETBU Tigers went on to tie the match at two sets apiece with a 25-20 win in the fourth set.
 
Bailee Moore led East Texas Baptist in the third set with three kills, including match point to give the ETBU Tigers a 15-11 victory. Moore had 13 kills on the night, while teammate Mallory Sanders added 14 kills and 16 digs.
 
Senior Sophie Merrifield led CC in the backrow with 24 digs as the Tigers dropped to 9-1 on the season.
 
East Texas Baptist improved to 8-2 on the season.
 
Colorado College continues play on the road as it travels to Shreveport, La. to begin SCAC conference action. The Tigers will play Centenary College at 12:30 pm CT.