A&M-Commerce 3, Texas Woman's 2
The Field House • Commerce, Texas
A&M-Commerce (15-6, 5-5 LSC), Texas Woman's (14-7, 6-4 LSC)
Up Next: at Ouachita Baptist • Saturday Oct. 26 • 2:00 p.m.

COMMERCE, Texas – Facing the prospect of losing a 2-0 lead for the third-straight match, A&M-Commerce roared out to an 8-1 lead in the fifth and never looked back, earning a spirited 3-2 victory over Texas Woman's Wednesday at the Field House. The victory pushes the Lions back into the thick of the Lone Star Conference race, improving to 15-6 on the year and 5-5 in LSC play.

The victory provided a bit of relief to head coach Craig Case and his squad as A&M-Commerce had jumped out to 2-0 leads in both of its road matches at Angelo State and Tarleton State this past weekend, only to squander the advantage and fall in five in both. 

Three Lions finished with double-doubles on the night, paced by Amy Davault setting a new career high with 23 kills with 22 digs for her fifth straight double-double. Kayla Bond had 15 kills and picked some key times to record them, especially in the fifth set. Breanne Snyder also had a double-double with 11 kills and 17 digs while Jordan Neal recorded 63 assists and 28 digs on the night she was recognized pre-game for becoming the all-time assist leader in A&M-Commerce Volleyball history. 

Freshman Taryn Driver finished with nine kills while hitting .250 on the evening while senior Ciara Holmes recorded eight kills and four blocks. Freshman Li'i Etimani had a solid performance with 19 digs on the night, a new career-best, with Michaela Spicer adding 16 digs in the victory.

The first set was a back and forth affair with neither team able to get much separation. The Lions were able to tie the score up at 16 after the Pioneers were able to hold the lead since it 10-9. A&M-Commerce then took the lead at 17-16 off a kill from Driver. Texas Woman's then took the lead back at 20-19 off a kill by Marcela Alves. The teams went back and forth and A&M-Commerce spoiled three different set points then the Lions got kills from Holmes and Neal to take the set 28-26.

Set number two saw the teams split the first 20 points and once was the lead larger than two for either side. A&M-Commerce took the lead at 19-18 off a service error by Texas Woman's and held off the Pioneers to win the set 25-21 with a kill from Snyder.

A&M-Commerce was able to hold the lead for the most of the third set. Texas Woman's then tied the set at 18, 19 and 20 before taking a 21-20 advantage off a Morgan Wilson ace. The Pioneers then closed on a 4-1 run to take the set 25-22 and avoid the sweep.

The Pioneers used the closing run of set three to dominate set four. Texas Woman's started off well, holding a 10-7 lead early. Texas Woman's called a timeout after the Lions tied score at 10. Then the Pioneers closed the set on a 15-2 run to leave little doubt in set four and force a fifth set.

But the convincing win in the fourth set did little to phase A&M-Commerce in the fifth as the Lions opened up the set winning seven of the first nine points. Texas Woman's used both of its timeouts early but that couldn't stem the tide as A&M-Commerce scored four of the last six to take the fifth set 15-9 and the match three sets to two.

A&M-Commerce takes the court next in Arkadelphia to take on Ouachita Baptist on Saturday at 2 p.m. The Lions next home game is set for next Friday, October 31, versus Midwestern State at 7:00 p.m.