COMMERCE– As a large group sat on the edge of their seats, there were one, two, seven school names called. Then, to the elation of all in the room, they called the name the group was hoping to hear. For the first time in 29 years, the Texas A&M University-Commerce volleyball team would continue its season into the NCAA Tournament. A joyous crowd erupted in cheers as tears came to the eyes of Lion senior Sydney Reyes.
 
"There was nothing but joy," she said. "I was crying I was so excited. Knowing that our season is not over, knowing our volleyball careers are not over, that is a great feeling."
 
It was a stark contrast to just one year ago when the Lions had similar hopes of an NCAA berth, only to not hear their name called on selection day. Entering the final weekend of the regular season, the team was in the final spot of the regional rankings. But a loss in the first round of the conference tournament seemed to be the tipping point, dropping the Lions out of contention.
 
"It was just really heartbreaking that we had to end our season that way with that glimmer of hope in our hearts that it wouldn't be over," Reyes said.
 
After the announcement, the team's juniors, including Reyes, Lacie Jessup and Layne Little, got together in the team locker room to discuss the agonizing feeling of falling short of their NCAA Tournament goal. Together, they made a vow that the 2017 season would be different. The seniors would make sure of it. They would change their approach, and bring their underclassmen along with them.
 
"After that, this year's seniors got together and we talked about how that wasn't going to happen this year," Reyes said. "It's starts with us. The change happens with us. We made it our goal to get in this year."
 
The team didn't just have a meeting and then forget about the promise they made to give the extra inch in every practice and every match. It was something that was constantly addressed by the seniors, not only in their own group, but with their teammates as well.
 
"That was something that was definitely talked about all throughout our spring, all throughout our summer, all throughout our fall," Jessup said. "It was continuously brought up. We remembered sitting in that locker room. We remember that feeling. Even though it was heartbreaking and difficult, I think it drove us to really push ourselves this year."
 
After a rigorous offseason and training camp, the team began their season with two four-game tournaments, including four matches against nationally ranked opponents. The team did not have the success it wanted against those ranked teams, losing all four matches. But the players saw the level they needed to get to in order to compete with the top teams in the country.
 
"Those games kind of picked us apart a little bit," Jessup said. "They didn't go our way but we were really close in some of them. I think it showed us the stuff we needed to work on. It showed us some of our weaknesses as we started our season."
 
The Lions then returned home to the Field House. After a bout with Dallas Baptist, they started their conference season with two more matches against nationally ranked opponents: conference rivals Angelo State and Tarleton State. Learning from their early mistakes and harnessing the support of their home crowd, the team rallied to win both matches in five-set thrillers.
 
"I think those early matches were really important," Little said. "They weren't the outcomes we wanted. But getting to see that level of competition and knowing what would be expected of us at that level that early in the season, that really helped us with our two opening conference games. That really helped us get those wins was playing that top competition to begin with and starting our season playing at the level we needed to be at."
 
With wins over two of the best teams in the country under their belts, the team saw its capability. Now, there was no mistaking it. This team had the potential to be a force. They just had to play up to that potential.
 
"That is what started to open our eyes to what we could do this season," Little said. "Knocking off those two nationally ranked teams was huge for us. To start off our conference season that way, we knew there was nothing we could not accomplish. Starting out with those two wins showed us what we were capable of. There were no excuses left for losing any games after that."
 
The team then found its groove just two weeks later. They began what was the third longest winning streak in school history, winning eight games in a row, including five consecutive road wins.
 
"It was kind of like a fire," Jessup said. "Beating Angelo and Tarleton, it showed us that we could win this conference. We sat down and we made goals for ourselves at the beginning of our season. And one of our goals was to go undefeated in conference. Obviously, we didn't accomplish that goal, but us always thinking about that in the back of our head was something that fueled that winning streak."
 
During the streak, winning became contagious.
 
"I think with every game as the streak increased, we got hungrier and hungrier to keep it going," Reyes said. "After that, the standard was definitely raised in practice and games."
 
The Lions finished the season undefeated at home and were the sixth seed in the regional rankings going into the conference tournament. They knew they held their destiny in their own hands. After finishing in the conference semifinal round, the team was confident but still in the back of their mind creeped in some doubts. After seeing seven team names called in the South Central Region selection show, there was only one spot left. Seeing their name pop up was a weight lifted.
 
"It was fitting that we were the last team to be called," Reyes said with a smile. "I just had the feeling that we would be in. But for us to be the last name, are you serious? Come on!"
 
Reyes wasn't the only nervous Lion. Jessup too was on the edge of her seat and Little was visibly nervous before smiles came to their faces.
 
"This year, there was no way we were not going to get in," Little said. "We knew that we weren't done with our season. We knew that we hadn't accomplished everything that we could yet."
 
Seeing the team achieve its goal, the seniors reflected on the meeting they held in their locker room exactly one year ago.
 
"We talked about how we have to hold a standard for our team," Jessup said. "We have to make sure that whoever comes in, whoever stays, freshmen, sophomores, it doesn't matter, whoever joins our team, they understand that we all have this goal. If they don't have that goal, then they better have that goal. Or they are not going to want to be a part of our team. I think that that is something that has helped us this season."
 
The seniors also reflected on how far the team had come since they were freshmen joining the team in 2013. Going from a team that finished 7-23 to an NCAA Tournament team in four years was a feat they knew wasn't easy. It was even harder still for a program that hadn't made the NCAA Tournament since 1988. This team not only achieved one of its preseason goals, it joined other historic Lion teams.

"I feel like we are making history," Jessup said. "I'm just so honored to be a part of a team that gets to do that. I'm so honored to be a part of a program that has allowed us to go from a 7-23 season to now. That is all because of the work that we have put in and the work our coaches have put in."
 
"The hard work is finally paying off," Reyes said. "It is really nice to see the progress. It is a milestone you could say for the program. It is nice that we get to go out with a bang."
 
The team hopes making the NCAA Tournament this year begins a new trend for the program. Making the tournament may be great, but being a consistent participant is even better.
 
"We want this year to be the baseline," Reyes said. "We don't want anything below this. From here, it only goes up. Ultimately, I hope that this program beats the record of three national tournaments in a row. I want them to go every year. I think that would be really awesome."
 
"It is an expectation now," Jessup said of making the tournament. "I hope that is what this season has created. I hope it has opened people's eyes to realize that this is something we can accomplish. This is something that can happen every year. It is exciting that we are a part of this, but we want the program to excel further and further."
 
Having accomplished a major goal set during the preseason, the Lions now shift their focus. They face Metropolitan State University of Denver on Thursday to open up the South Central Regional tournament. With three wins, A&M-Commerce would win the regional tournament. Six more wins would equal a national championship.
 
"Our focus is to go all the way," Little said. "Playing those ranked teams that we did in the preseason and going through our conference schedule, we don't really feel intimidated by anyone. I think teams are going to be looking at us just as much as we are looking at them. It is really important that we know as a team that there is nothing that can stop us in the tournament. We got our spot and we earned our spot. Now there are no excuses."
 
With only two more weeks on the schedule for everyone, it is now do-or-die for each team. The Lions are preparing for everyone's best. They also look to give their best. They know how well they can play and have utmost confidence in themselves. Now, they have to put it together on the court.
 
"Now we have to prove it," Reyes said. "It is all about holding that standard in practice, in games, outside of practice, off the court. Coach Case at the end of practice today said that we could be the scariest team in the tournament. It is all in our hands. From here, it is just giving everything to the next two weeks and going out there and proving it to everyone and proving it to ourselves."