The Craig Case era at Texas A&M University-Commerce saw the Lions' volleyball team split its two matches in the first day of the Lion Volleyball Classic on Friday. A&M-Commerce (1-1) started the day with a 25-23, 25-17, 23-25, 25-22 loss to Southern Arkansas (1-0) and wrapped up the day with a 25-23, 25-21, 28-26 win over Oklahoma Panhandle State.

In the match against Southern Arkansas, the Lions were outhit by a .198 to .142 margin in the season opener and victims to seven service errors. The MuleRiders took advantage of the A&M-Commerce miscues as they posted eight service aces and Rebecca Pate and Lindsey Wilcox combined for 23 of the 44 kills.

Newcomers' Kayla Bond (pictured), Ciara Holmes and Jordan Neal all saw extensive action in all four sets in their Lions' debut. Bond paced an A&M-Commerce attack with 11 kills; Neal added 28 assists and Holmes had six blocks, including four block solos. Returnees' sophomore Rachel Robertson and senior Naomi Mays added nine and eight kills, respectively.

In the nightcap against the Aggies of Oklahoma Panhandle State, the Lions had 10 kills in each set with Bond having a team-best 11 kills for the match. Another one of the A&M-Commerce promising newcomers had a significant impact in the contest with freshman Dakota Crockett having a match-high 14 digs in her first collegiate start.

In the opening set, the Lions and Aggies exchanged the lead until A&M-Commerce closed out the set with an 8-2 run that included two kills by Bond for the 25-23 first set.

The second set was controlled by the Lions and a balanced offensive effort that included three kills from Holmes and two more each from Bond, Neal and Robertson to build a two-set advantage with the 25-21 victory.

A&M-Commerce clinched the win with a thrilling 28-26 victory in the third set. Trailing by as much as eight, 20-12, the Lions scored 10 of the 12 next 12 points to tie the match at 22. The two teams exchanged side outs before A&M-Commerce capitalized on an OPSU ball handling error and an attacking error for the 28-26 win to secure the win.

The Lions return to the court for the final day of the Lion Volleyball Classic when they host Fort Hays State at 1 p.m. and following the football game against Arkansas-Monticello at 8:30 in the A&M-Commerce Field House on Saturday.