COMMERCE – The Texas A&M University-Commerce volleyball team defeated Incarnate Word, 3-1, on Thursday night at the Field House. By winning the first set, 25-14, the third set 25-12, and the fourth set, 25-18, the Lions are undefeated at home this season. The Cardinals won the second set, 26-24.
 
The Lions improve to 5-13 on the season, while the Cardinals drop to 1-12 overall. In the Southland Conference standings, A&M-Commerce is 2-2 and tied with McNeese for sixth place, while UIW is in last place with a SLC record of 0-4.
 
The Lions kicked off taking the first four points of the first set and went on a 12-3 run. The Cardinals returned serve with a 5-1 run. Lyric Hebert (Arvada, Colo.) recorded three service aces in the first set with two being back-to-back. The Lions, on a 9-1 run, cinched the set win with a kill from Ashley Pennington (Frisco - Liberty).  
 
The Cardinals, trailing in the match, answered with a 4-1 run of their own and holding the lead for the first half of the set until the Lions eventually tied the set 15-15 and took the lead for the first time. The Cardinals chipped away to take the lead back and secured the set win over the Lions on a kill by Risa Sena. A&M-Commerce led 24-23, but lost the next three points to tie the match.
 
Taking the first three points of the set and continuing with multiple back-to-back runs, the Lions built out a 11-2 run in the third. A&M-Commerce led by double digits for the majority of the set and closed out on a kill by Yasmin Figueiredo (Rio de Janeiro).
 
Being a set away from the match win, the Lions had the early 11-6 lead, but UIW tied the set with a 5-0 run. With the set tied at 12, A&M-Commerce won six of the next seven to pull away, 18-13. The Lions won three of the last four points of the set and won the match on a kill by Taryn Cast (Peaster).
 
Hebert recorded five service aces, with three being in the first set and 19 digs. Celeste Vela (Guadalajara, Mexico) led the team with 39 assist and recorded two aces and blocks. Maddy Rashford (Placentia, Calif.) led with 13 kills followed by Cast with 11 kills and Reese Fetty (Farmersville) with 10 kills. Cast and Figueiredo both notched four blocks each.


POST MATCH INTERVIEW
 
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The Lions host defending Southland Conference champion, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, on Saturday at 1 p.m. As part of the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month on campus, fans are encouraged to arrive early to Saturday's match for free t-shirts until supplies last.