Portales, New Mexico – The A&M-Commerce volleyball team went into Friday's match looking to clinch a Lone Star Conference tournament birth. A Lion 3-0 win over Eastern New Mexico combined with a Midwestern State loss 3-1 to Texas A&M-Kingsville meant A&M-Commerce clinched at least an eight seed in the LSC tournament.
 
"I was pleased with the intensity and focus tonight", Lions' head volleyball coach Craig Case said. "We served and passed really well, which gave us great opportunities to run our offense. As a team, we did a good job of putting them into tough spots and executing when given the opportunity. We played with a really high volleyball IQ tonight."
 
In the first set the Lions trailed early 8-6 when back-to-back Taryn Driver kills ignited a run where the Lions scored six of the next seven points and took a 12-9 lead. Delanee Clark delivered the knock out punch with a kill that sparked a 6-0 run en route to a 25-14 set one win. Clark finished with four kills and a block in the first set.
 
The second set went back and forth until an Amy Davault kill sparked a run where the Lions scored six of seven points to take a 24-16 lead. Neka Nelson came in and slammed the door with an impressive kill to end the set.
 
In the third set, the gym was rocking and the Zias played with a lot of momentum to start. However, back-to back Lion kills by Veronika Baric and Courtney Tate ignited a run that saw the Lions score nine of the next 12 points. The run was highlighted by three Davault kills and capped off with a Driver and Baric block making the score 19-12. Eastern New Mexico would not go away quietly climbing back with a 4-0 run to pull the Zias with in two points, 22-24. A Davault kill finished off Eastern New Mexico.
 
Agatha Gibbons was the main offensive threat for Eastern New Mexico racking up 11 kills. The setting duo of Kendi Catano and Karra Day combined for 21 assists for the Zias. Catano had a team-high 11 assists and Day added 10. Defensively the Zias had 7 blocks Bree Anna Lucero had four total blocks tonight.
 
Davault had her fourth consecutive double-double with 14 kills and 14 digs to lead the Lions. Tate did an excellent job of running the A&M-Commerce offense putting the Lions in position to get kills racking up a match-high 28 assists. Defensively, the Lions did a superb job passing highlighted by performances from Lacie Jessup, Chasiddy Hill and Ashley Mireles who set up the Lion offense with clean first touches. Clark and Driver were a force on defense Driver racked up four total blocks, while Clark added three more blocks.
 
A&M-Commerce looks to keep the momentum going tomorrow afternoon when the Lions travel to Canyon, Texas for a match-up with West Texas A&M. The Lady Buffs are currently riding a 20- match win streak and an unblemished conference record. First serve is scheduled for 2 p.m.
 
Fans can follow all the action from the 2014-15 season on www.LionAthletics.com, through twitter @Lion_Athletics and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LionsAthletics.