A&M-Commerce 3, Angelo State 1
Location: The Field House • Commerce, Texas
Records: A&M-Commerce (12-3, 3-2 LSC); Angelo State (11-4, 4-2 LSC)
Up Next: at West Texas A&M – Canyon, Texas – Friday Oct. 7:00 p.m.

COMMERCE, TEXAS – A&M-Commerce beat the number 10 ranked Rambelles of Angelo State on Wednesday night in four sets for Craig Case's first win over Angelo State. The Lions came out and played inspired volleyball and were led by Amy Davault, who set a new career high with 22 kills.

"It feels good. It feels good for a lot of reasons. We stepped up and played like a team tonight", said Case postgame. "It is a good team we beat and if you are going to have a good season you have to beat good teams", continued Case. 

Set number one saw a very tight set in which the largest lead for either side was three points. The first 24 points were split evenly, then the Lions scored two in a row off a kill from Kayla Bond and an error from Kaelen Valdez. The Lions would not give up the lead again but Angelo did tie the set at 17 and 21 all after the Lions tried to put some distance between the two sides. A kill by Taryn Driver made it 22-21 Lions then Davault recorded three of her 22 kills on the night to give the Lions a 25-22 set win.

The second set was even tighter than the first early on where there were 13 ties and eight lead changes. The Lions took a 15-13 lead off an attack error from Maddie Huth but the Rambelles came back fast with three straight points to take a 16-15 lead. Breanne Snyder tied the game back up for the Lions with a kill. A&M-Commerce scored three of the next four points to take another two-point lead at 19-17. However, the Rambelles scored eight of the last nine points, with the help of some Lion errors, to take the second set 25-20.

In set number three the Lions came out quick and got up 3-0 early with kills from Drive and Davault. Then got the lead out to 10-6 that forced an Angelo State timeout but that was futile, with the Lions winning the next two points out of the time out and controlling the momentum at this point. Then Angelo State found some offense and reeled off five straight to make it 12-12. The sides exchanged points then the Lions went on a eight to nothing run to take a commanding lead at 22-14. The run featured two kills from Jordan Neal and Bond, an ace from Snyder and some errors from Angelo State. An Arielle Bond kill stopped the run to make it 22-15 in favor of the Lions but A&M-Commerce got three straight after that to take the third set 25-15.

Angelo State came out hot early trying to force a fifth and deciding set with a 6-3 lead in set four. The Lions responded well and fought back to tie it at 9. Davault gave the Lions their first lead of the set with a kill to make it 10-9. The Lions extended the lead to 14-11 off a Snyder kill then Angelo responded with a mini-run to tie the set at 14. However, the Rambelles were unable to take the lead and the Lions scored four straight then three in a row to take a 21-15 lead. The Lions closed out the set and match with two kills from Driver and Davault to take the set 25-17.

Davault's 22 kills came on 54 total attacks for a .333 hitting percentage. She also recorded 14 digs for her fourth straight double-double and ninth on the season. Snyder also set a new career mark with her 23 digs and added 11 kills. The double-double was Snyder's third in her last four games and fourth overall. Bond recorded 11 kills along with seven total blocks for the Lions. The Denton native has now recorded double digit kills in nine of 15 matches this season. Driver tied a career mark with six total blocks along with her five kills on the night. Setter, Jordan Neal registered her second straight double-double (51 assists, 11 digs). The 51 assists is second straight and fourth time overall that Neal has topped the 50 plateau this season.

"We need to make [the effort] continuous even if we are down we need to stay positive and bring it back because once [the intensity] is up I do not think anyone can beat us," said Davault after the match.  

The Lions have a short time to enjoy the win with another stiff test coming on Friday when they travel to face the #9 Lady Buffs of West Texas A&M in Canyon, Texas.

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