LUBBOCK – Playing a major conference opponent in the regular season for the first time, the Texas A&M University-Commerce volleyball team fought, but lost 3-0 to Texas Tech on Saturday afternoon at United Supermarkets Arena.
 
The Lions fell in three games at the Red Raider Classic and are now 2-5 on the season. Texas Tech has just one loss on the season, which is suffered to Wyoming on Friday.

"Today match against a Big XII opponent was a right step in the direction I see this program going in," said coach Joe Morales. "There are still a lot of things to work out and holes to fill, but our team has responded every match, and it was very evident in today's match. Our defense was outstanding today out digging them 66 to 52. They kept us in longer rallies and gave us a fighting chance. I am proud of our process and eventually the results will come. Overall, this was a good weekend for us learning and growing!"

A&M-Commerce won at least the first two points in all three sets. In the first set, the Lions had a 4-0 lead until a service error gave the serve to the Red Raiders. Texas Tech, on a 3-0 run, took a 7-6 lead.
 
A service error helped the Lions tied the set at 14, but another service error allowed Texas Tech to start a 7-1 run. The Lions won the next three points, but Tech won four of the last five points of the set to win the first, 25-19.
 
Two kills by the Lions gave them a 2-0 lead in the second. Neither team had a lead bigger than two in the set until a 9-1 run by the Red Raiders built a 16-8 lead. A&M-Commerce won seven of the next nine to pull to within two and trailed 21-19 in the set, but Texas Tech won the next four points to take the set.
 
The Lions once again started the set strong in the third, leading 5-0, but five straight points by the Red Raiders tied it at six. A&M-Commerce had an 8-2 run to lead 14-8.
 
A blocking error by the Red Raiders gave the Lions a 17-13 lead, but Tech won the next eight points to lead 21-18. The Lions served back a 6-1 run to take a 23-22 lead.
 
Texas Tech had its first chance to win the match at 24-23, but Avery Wilks (Mont Belvieu – Barbers Hills) delivered a kill to tie it at 24. An attacking error gave Texas Tech another set point, but Kitana Tuufuli (St. Hedwig – Steele) brought it back to 25-25. Red Raiders took the match with two straight points.
 
Tuufuli posted 12 kills and a block, while Deja Benjamin (Pearland – Shadow Creek) totaled eight as well as four blocks, Wilks had four blocks and three kills. Breann Connally (Coolidge – Groesbeck) recorded 16 assists, three blocks, and two digs. Ten assists and one dig came from Peyton Plant (Littleton, Colo.).
 
Defensively, Taylor Borden (Gregory-Portland) recorded 18 digs, while both Millie Allgood (Sherwood, Ark.) and Jade Smith (Houston – Mayde Creek) had 16. Katelyn Cochran had a double-double for the Red Raiders with 25 assists and 12 digs.
 
The Lions and the Red Raiders met for the first time since 1985.
 
UP NEXT
A quick bounce-back opportunity awaits for the Lions, who host Prairie View A&M for the home opener on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free for all home matches in 2023.