Denton, Texas -A&M-Commerce Lion Volleyball opens the 2015 season with a tournament hosted by Lone Star Conference (LSC) counterpart Texas Woman's University. The Lions play two games on September 4. The first verses Harding at 1:30 p.m. and then Arkansas at Monticello at 6:30 p.m. September 5 the Lions take on UC-Colorado Springs at noon and conclude the tournament against Arkansas Tech at 5 p.m.
When matched against these four teams, The Lions have an overall record of 14-12. They are currently winless when facing Arkansas Tech at 0-4 and have a 2-1 record verses UC-Colorado Springs. The Lions will try to even up the series verses Harding as they currently sit below .500 with a 6-7 record however they hold an impressive 6-0 record against Arkansas at Monticello.
In the 2014 season, The Lions took a year course in the hard knocks school of volleyball ending the season with an overall record of 7-23 and an LSC record of 4-12. This is after the historic 2013 season where the Lions went 23-9 and a conference standing at 9-7, which gave them the fourth conference rank. Since the 2014 Lion Volleyball team was stacked with freshmen, more experience has the Lions ready to compete and to climb back into the upper portion of the LSC.
Top returners for the Lions consist of
Taryn Driver,
Courtney Tate,
Ashley Mireles, and
Delanee Clark.
Taryn Driver, All-Academic LSC performer, is a junior who was second on the team last season in total kills with 191. 2014 Freshman All LSC Honorable Mention
Courtney Tate was the team leader in assists with 1,056 and also aces with 17. Junior defensive specialist
Ashley Mireles led the team in 2014 in digs with 520 and
Delanee Clark led the 2014 Lions with 69 total blocks. A key addition to the 2015 Lion Volleyball team is
Summer Alford coming from Kentucky Wesleyn College. Alford made First Team All-Conference for outside hitter twice for the G-Mac Conference.
Craig Case enters his 6th season leading the Lion Volleyball program. Going into the Texas Woman's Invitational, Case record sits at .500 at 75 wins and 75 losses.
Fans can follow all the action from the 2015-16 season on www.LionAthletics.com, through twitter @Lion_Athletics and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LionsAthletics.
