COMMERCE– The Texas A&M University-Commerce volleyball team will begin their conference schedule with a pair of home matches against top-25 opponents. The Lions will face No. 5 Angelo State on Friday and No. 14 Tarleton State on Saturday.
 
WHO (Game 1): Texas A&M-Commerce (4-5) vs. No. 5 Angelo State (8-1)
WHEN (Game 1): Friday, Sept. 15 at 6 p.m.
WHO (Game 2): Texas A&M-Commerce (4-5) vs. No. 14 Tarleton State (6-3)
WHEN (Game 2): Saturday, Sept. 16 at 2 p.m.
WHERE: The Field House in Commerce Texas
LIVE STATS: Click HERE
LIVE VIDEO: http://lionathletics.com/live
TICKETS: Click HERE
 
The Lions are coming off of a win in their home opener on Tuesday. The Lions defeated Dallas Baptist 3-1, with the fourth set going into extra points.
 
"It was great finally being at home," said head coach Craig Case. "It was good to play in front of fans, friends and family. I thought we played pretty well."
 
The Lions cruised out to two early set wins before falling in the third set. The Lions again got off to a good start in the fourth set and were able to withstand a late rally from DBU to win the match.
 
"When we are rolling, we've got to figure out how to keep the momentum," Case said. "I think that has been the thing that has hurt this team this year in big matches. When we've got the momentum, we have got to be more efficient with it and make sure we are doing everything we need to be doing to keep it.
 
"Too often, we are giving the other team momentum because of our errors and because of what we are doing. I think that was a good lesson for us to learn because we ended up getting the win too. We were able to battle back in the fourth set and prevent a fifth set. I really like the way, mentally, that we recovered from that. I think that was a good opportunity for us to get better going into this weekend."
 
The Lions had four players with at least 13 kills in the match against DBU. Case likes seeing those type of numbers, because it means his offense is clicking and his defense is getting the ball where it needs to go.
 
"A lot of that credit goes to our setters and our liberos and our defensive specialists for being able to get us in system and let us run our offense," he said. "Our setters were able to make good decisions. I think, when we can do that and spread the ball around, we are a tough team to beat. Our opponents can't just key in on one or two people. They have to focus on everybody. When we can control the ball and put our setters in good positions to make good decisions, I think we are capable of having four players with double-digit kills."
 
For the third consecutive week to start the season, the Lions will face two top-25 opponents. With two early matches against two teams who will almost certainly be at the top of the conference standings come November, Case knows these are important matches. He hopes his team has learned from their pre-conference schedule how they need to play in order to win.
 
"We've got to be ready to play better in critical moments against those caliber of teams," he said. "We have been in a position to beat three out of the four top-25 teams we have already played. We didn't finish off the way we should have. Hopefully we have learned from those lessons. Now going against even better teams in Angelo and Tarleton, hopefully we have learned those lessons and we will be able to push through and finish in those critical situations."
 
This time, the Lions will be able to face the top ranked teams on their home court. Case knows his team will play better in a familiar environment. But he also knows these matches won't be easy, no matter where they are played.
 
"Certainly being at home is going to help," he said. We should pass better at home. We should serve better at home. We should be a little bit quicker. All of those things should help us a little bit. But there is no doubt about it. These are two really good teams and they are both incredibly deserving of their high ranks."
 
Case has said all through the offseason and the beginning of this season that he wants his program to be able to reach the level that ASU and TSU has been able to attain. He knows his team will need to start beating ranked teams in order make those dreams a reality.
 
"That's where we want to be too," he said. "In order to get to where we want to get to, we've got to beat teams like that. I think everybody on our team knows that and everybody on our team is committed to doing that this weekend."