DALLAS– The No. 23 Texas A&M University-Commerce volleyball team defeated Dallas Baptist University in straight sets on Saturday afternoon. The set scores were 26-24, 25-23, and 25-20.
 
The win brings the Lions to 19-4 on the season and 11-1 in the Lone Star Conference. The Patriots falls to 13-11 and 5-7 in LSC play.
 
The Lions return home to face divisional rival Arkansas-Fort Smith on Friday at 6 p.m. The match will be played at the Field House. The Lions will then host Cameron on Saturday at 4 p.m.
 
Tickets to Lion Volleyball home matches can be purchased by visiting WeAreLionsTix.com, by calling (903) 468-8756, or by visiting the Lion Sales & Service Box Office inside the Field House during business hours.
 
HEAD COACH CRAIG CASE AFTER THE MATCH
- On winning three very close sets: "They are a really good team, and they are exceptional at home. To be able to hold onto those first two sets and pull those out on the road against that team was a real positive sign."
- On matching the intensity: "When you are on the road, you have to be able to match the intensity of the team in their own gym. You have to execute at a high level. And that's exactly what we did, especially in those critical points in the match. It really was a team effort. I think we had some fatigue by some players but when people weren't playing great, I thought others stepped up. It was a really good win."
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Sydney Andersen (Placentia, Calif.) led the team with 14 kills. She also had five digs.
- Bina Njikam (Keller) had 11 kills and also led the team with four blocks. Shelley Chapron (Houston – St. Pius X) had eight kills, leading the team with a .400 hitting percentage.
- Riley Davidson (Commerce) led the team with 20 digs, and also had a pair of aces. Savannah Rutledge (The Woodlands – College Park) had 12 digs.
- Celeste Vela (Guadalajara, Mexico) led the team with 24 assists, while Natalie Sarbeck (Cypress – Cy-Fair) had 16.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
It was a game of runs throughout the first set. DBU jumped out to an early lead, taking four of the first five points, and eventually pushing their lead to 11-6. The Lions rallied back, taking five in a row to tie the set. It was part of a 12-3 run by A&M-Commerce that gave them an 18-14 lead. DBU then responded, going on a 4-0 run to tie the set again. After the Lions took three in a row again, DBU took five of the next six to have the Lion face set point. However, A&M-Commerce got consecutive kills from Andersen and took the final three points, winning the set 26-24.
 
It was again back and forth throughout the second set. DBU took two separate leads of three points, yet the Lions battled back both times to tie the set. Midway through the set, the score was tied at 13. After DBU built a 18-16 lead, the Lions scored four in a row to take a lead. After DBU rallied to regain the lead, the Lions closed out the set with a flourish, taking four of the final five points to win 25-23.
 
DBU got off to a hot start in third set, taking a 7-3 early lead. The Lions kept their composure and rallied back, taking nine of the next 12 points to take a 12-10 lead. The lead changed hands multiple times over the next points, with the teams tied at 19 late. The Lions then finished on fire, winning six of the final seven points to win the set 25-20.