A&M-Commerce 3, Eastern New Mexico 1
Location: The Field House • Commerce, Texas
Records: A&M-Commerce (11-17, 6-14 LSC); Eastern New Mexico (6-24, 1-19 LSC)

COMMERCE, Texas -- Four different players recorded double-digit kills as A&M-Commerce closed out the 2011 season on a high note, downing Eastern New Mexico 25-19, 23-25, 25-22, 25-22 at the Field House. The Lions finish the year with an 11-17 overall mark and a 6-14 mark in the Lone Star Conference.

Ezon Onditi and Rachel Robertson led A&M-Commerce with 14 kills apiece, as Onditi added nine digs while Robertson posted eight digs and three blocks. The duo finished one-two in the Lion standings in total digs on the year as Robertson set a new career-high with 358 kills while Onditi had an impressive freshman campaign, finishing with 268.

Chelsee Hudson had a career-best 12 kills for A&M-Commerce on the afternoon with a .310 hitting percentage and seven digs while Breanne Snyder finished with 10 kills and 10 digs for her fifth double-double of the season. Snyder was the third member of the Lion 200-kill club this season finishing with 219 in her freshman campaign.

Jordan Neal posted 50 assists in the victory, upping her season total to 1,047, which is a new personal best for her. She also had a service ace, giving her a conference-best 41 on the season. Defensively, four Lions had double-digit digs, led by 12 from both Dakota Crockett and Savanah Neal. Neal added 10 to go along with the 10 from Snyder.

Looking to get a win in its final match of the season, A&M-Commerce built an early lead in set one, only to see Eastern New Mexico tie the set at 12-12. But the Lions would notch the next two points and never trailed again, pulling away with a 4-1 run down the stretch to take the opener 25-19.

The Lions looked like they were set to run away with the second set as well, racing out to an early 8-1 lead. But A&M-Commerce allowed the Zias to hang around as Eastern New Mexico slowly started to chip away at the early deficit. Leading 22-18, the Lions were uanble to close out the set, allowing the Zias to string together a 7-1 run, taking its first lead of the set at 24-23, then closing the set 25-23 to stun A&M-Commerce and tie the match at one set apiece.

The pivotal third set proved to be the most competitive of the match as the Lions and Zias combined for 17 ties and nine lead changes. Neither team was able to build more than a three-point advantage as Eastern New Mexico held a 22-21 lead late. Following a Lion timeout, A&M-Commerce responded in a big way, scoring the last four points of set three to turn the tide of the match back in their favor with a 25-22 decision.

With the season on the line, Eastern New Mexico had the early momentum in set four, building a modest four-point cushion at 10-6. But a 9-1 run by the Lions gave A&M-Commerce the lead for good at 15-11. But as they did all afternoon, the Zias continued to give the Lions all they could handle, keeping the set close and pulling to within a pair at 24-22. But a kill by Onditi sealed the match, giving A&M-Commerce the 25-22 win and the 3-2 victory in the season finale.

Eastern New Mexico got a big outing from Amber Durand, who finished with a match-high 19 kills with eight digs for the Zias. Kristen Beck added 11 kills and 11 digs with Jessica King finishing with eight kills. Kennedi Catano had 39 assists and a pair of aces with Dallas Russell notching 26 digs.

As A&M-Commerce looks to the future, head coach Craig Case has a sense of optimism as the Lions had no seniors on this year's team. Robertson, Neal, Onditi and Snyder appear in the running for Lone Star Conference honors and A&M-Commerce will look to build off its 6-14 conference record after just missing the LSC Tournament in 2011.