Angelo State 3, A&M-Commerce 2
Location: Stephens Area • San Angelo, Texas
Records: Angelo State (14-6, 6-3 LSC), A&M-Commerce (14-5, 4-4 LSC)
Up Next: at Tarleton State • Stephenville, Texas • Saturday Oct. 19 2:00 pm.

SAN ANGELO, Texas – The Lions dropped the last three sets and were unable to beat Angelo State for the second time in nine days. A&M-Commerce could not take advantage of 44 attack errors by the Rambelles and committed some untimely miscues of their own.

This is the first time since losing to Arkansas Tech back in 2010 have the Lions dropped three straight sets to lose a match after winning at least one. A win over the Rambellese would have given the Lions a season sweep for the first time since 2005.

It was a special night for one Lion, as Jordan Neal broke the career assist mark in A&M-Commerce volleyball history with her 27 assist of the night en-route to 45 on the night. Melissa Staiger held the record since 2000 with her 3,843 career assists. Neal's career total now sits at 3,862.

Ciara Holmes led the offense for the Lions with 13 kills and five total blocks. Amy Davault recorded her third straight double-double with 12 kills and 26 digs. Breanne Snyder and Kayla Bond also had double-doubles. Snyder recorded 11 kills and 19 digs while Bond had 11 kills and 11 digs for hers.

Libero, Michaela Spicer, has a season high and tied a career high with her 29 digs. Li'I Etimani recorded 12 digs on the night.

The Lions came out well in the first set, building an 11-5 lead, but it Angelo State was supplying most of the points due to the number of errors they were committing. At one point in the first set the Lions had six kills on 19 points thanks to the errors. The Rambelles made a late six nothing run to cut the Lion lead to 23-20 but a Rambelle service error and a kill by Davault sealed the 25-20 set win. 

The second set was similar to the first in which attack errors by the Rambelles gave the Lions seven more points. A kill by Snyder gave the Lions a 15-9 advantage midway through the set. Angelo State then rallied and eventually tied the set a 20. A set closing five to two run gave the Lions the set win. The Lions survive five ties to take the second set 25-22.

Angelo State got an 11-6 lead early in set three after two kills from Kaelen Valdez. The Lions then rallied to eventually tie the set at 17 off a kill by Bond. The Lions then took a 21-18 lead and were looking at the straight set win. The score was ties at 24 after another kill by Snyder. Ciara Holmes then game the Lions match point at 25-24 but a series of unforced errors allowed Angelo State to score three straight to take the set, 27-25.

Set four was just as tight as set three. The teams went back and fourth threw most of the set. Angelo State called a time while leading, 16-15, to stop a run by A&M-Commerce. The score was tied at 16,17,18,19 and 20 before the Rambelles scored five of the last six to force the match to a decisive fifth set.

In set five the Rambelles got the lead at 8-6 after a kill by Arielle Bond and never looked back. The Lions got as close as two but Angelo State scored four of the last five to complete the comeback.

A&M-Commerce now travels to Stephenville to face the TexAnns of Tarleton State for the first time this season on Saturday. This game will go along ways in deciding seeding once conference tournament season rolls around.