HOUSTON – The Texas A&M University-Commerce volleyball team suffered a 3-0 defeat to defending conference champion, Houston Christian, on Thursday evening at Sharp Gym via set scores of 28-26, 25-16, and 27-25.
 
Coach Joe Morales said, "we never play without effort, but we need to still learn how to play from the start against a good team like HCU, who doesn't give up any easy points."
 
"We are a young team and gathering experience on the fly, it's just a matter of time before it all clicks. In a match like this, intangibles matter and sometimes we lacked those in crucial times of the match. But there is a lot of season left, and we are working every day to improve and get better. As a coach, that is everything I can ask for. I like the fight in us."
 
In the first set, the Lions fell behind 11-6 and 22-15, but 7-1 scoring run brought A&M-Commerce within one. After a HCU kill to force the first set point, the Lions won three in a row, including two kills by Reese Fetty (Farmersville) for their first set point opportunity.
 
HCU fought off the set point and took a 26-25 lead, but a service error tied the set at 26. An attacking error gave the Huskies another chance to win the set and this time they did on a kill by Sara Arroyo.
 
The Huskies won the first three points of the second set and went on to lead 14-3. The Lions came to within 20-14 on a 4-1 scoring run, but the Huskies inched closer to the match win with a 25-16 second set win.
 
The Lions had the early 5-3 lead in the third set, the Huskies tied at seven, but a 6-1 run opened a 12-8 lead for A&M-Commerce, who trailed just once more in the set. With the set tied at 20, the Lions won four of the next six for two set point opportunities. HCU won the next three for a match point, which was fought off by A&M-Commerce, but the Huskies took the next two to win the match.
 
HCU improves to 11-9 on the season and 6-2 in Southland play, while the Lions have lost two and fall to 8-13 overall and 4-4 in SLC play.
 
Kitana Tuufuli (St. Hedwig – Steele) had team-best 10 kills for the Lions, she also recorded two blocks and three digs. Breann Connally had 22 assists, three digs, and one block. Deja Benjamin (Pearland – Shadows Creek) led the way with four blocks. Jade Smith (Houston – Mayde Creek) had 18 digs.
 
For the Huskies, Audrey Pierce posted 16 kills, Grace McLaughlin had 36 assists, and Kaley Feris had 15 digs.
 
UP NEXT
The Lions return home to face Lamar on Saturday at 1 p.m.