COMMERCE, TEXAS – The Lions volleyball team dropped a 3-2 heartbreaker today to Eastern New Mexico despite a 28 kill and a .329 hitting percentage performance by Amy Davualt.
 
The Lions jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first set behind the services of Chassidy Hill. A lead the Lions would hold from start to finish. A&M-Commerce was led defensively by Lacie Jessup who had six digs in the first set. Neka Nelson slammed the door on Eastern New Mexico with back-to-back kills to end the set. Taryn Driver had a hitting percentage of .750 and notched three kills.
 
With the Lions trailing in the second set 8-9 A&M-Commerce went on an 8-0 run with Jessup serving. The run was highlighted by back-to-back Nelson and Sydney Reyes blocks and a great Jessup dig that led to a Nelson kill. The run gave the Lions a 15-10 lead. Jessup led the charge defensively with amazing digs that led to Lion points. The Lions would run away with the set 25-18. Davault contributed 10 of her 28 kills in the second set.
 
The start of the third set was almost a carbon copy to the second set. The Lions were trailing 7-5 when they would go on a 5-0 run with Jessup serving. This run was highlighted by a diving dig by Jessup that would lead to a Nelson kill. The run was capped off by back-to-back Nelson and Reyes blocks and A&M-Commerce went up 9-11. The Zias would go on a 6-0 run of their own and not look back taking a third set victory 25-21.
 
The Zias were in control of the fourth set from start to finish winning 25-15. The Lions had a hitting percentage of --.024 and committed 10 errors compared to only two errors for Eastern New Mexico. 
 
Jessup again provided a spark in the fifth set with another diving dig that eventually led to a Nelson and Reyes Block to give the Lions a 5-2 lead. Later in the set Davault came up with a big kill that gave the Lions a 14-9 lead. The Zias would then go on a run of their own scoring the next four points. With the score 14-13 Davault had an attack that appeared to be touched by a Zias player as the ball went out of bounds, however, the ball was call out on the Lions and the run continued. Eastern New Mexico would score the final seven points to win the set and match.
 
Eastern New Mexico (8-7, 3-4 LSC) was led by Courtney Lawson who provided a double-double with 15 kills and 18 digs. Lindsey Barron had a team-high 21 kills and had a hitting percentage of .487. Defensively the Zias were led by Lindsey Bost who had 25 digs.
 
A&M-Commerce (3-14, 1-7 LSC) received a huge lift from Jessup who had a career-high with 24 digs. Jessup also led the Lions on a pair of runs while serving in the second and third set. Davault notched second consecutive double-double with 16 digs and a season-high 28 kills. Nelson had a career-high 15 kills. Courtney Tate contributed with a match-high 58 assists.
 
The Lions next match is on Wednesday, October 8 as A&M-Commerce hosts St.Edwards University. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.
 
 
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