USAFA, Colo. – In three tightly contested quarters at the East Gym on Friday night, the Texas A&M University-Commerce volleyball team fell to the Air Force Falcons by set scores of 25-18, 25-23, and 28-26 in the Lions' first match in the Division I era.
 
Falling behind by three early in the first set, the Lions capitalized on three straight errors by the Falcons for a 10-9 lead, who won seven of the next nine points to take command of the set and closed out the set on a 5-2 run.


COACH CRAIG CASE'S THOUGHTS
 
In the second set, the Lions had the early 6-2 edge on an ace by Carley Spachman (Leewood, Kansas), but Air Force responded by winning the next five points. The Lions had the 13-9 edge  in the set as well by winning four straight points and tied the set at 23 a piece, before dropping the final two points of the second set.
 
Down two sets to none and 15-11 in the third set, the Lions remained within reach of the Falcons throughout the set and took a 23-22 lead on an ace by Lyric Hebert (Arvada, Colo.). A&M-Commerce had the 26-25 lead, but two attacking errors and an ace gave the Falcons the 28-26 set win and a clean sweep in the season opener for both teams.
 
Reese Fetty (Farmersville) recorded 10 kills for the Lions, while Celeste Vela (Guadalajara, Mexico) had 24 assists, and Hebert had 10 digs. Essence Allen (Longview – Tatum) added nine kills and the Lions served up five aces in the match.
 
UP NEXT
A&M-Commerce closes out the Amy Svoboda Classic against Drake (11 a.m. CDT) and Cal State Northridge (5:30 p.m. MDT) on Saturday afternoon.