COMMERCE – A tough weekend is ahead for the Texas A&M University-Commerce volleyball team, who faces three major conference programs at the Texas Tech Invitational in Lubbock.
 
WHO: Prairie View A&M at A&M-Commerce
WHERE: Commerce | The Field House
WHEN: Tuesday, September 5 | 6:30 p.m.
RECORDS: The Lions are 2-5 overall, while the Panthers are 2-4.
 
LIVE VIDEO: ESPN+ | https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/aa6628ed-cee1-4761-b517-2af955748ee1  
LIVE STATS: https://statb.us/b/479301  
TICKETS: Free Admission
 
WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE LIONS
The Lions head to Birmingham, Alabama, for the Blazer Classic this weekend. On Friday, the Lions face rival Tarleton and Alabama, the program's first regular season opponent from the SEC, and battle the hosts, UAB, on Saturday.

YOU CAN'T TOUCH THIS
Reese Fetty (Farmersville) has served up 12 aces this season, including six last week. She is the Southland Conference leader in the category.  
 
A THRILLING WIN IN ABILENE
The Lions fought till the end and pulled out a five-set win over Abilene Christian last Tuesday, which was the first meeting between the two former conference rivals since 2012. A&M-Commerce has won three straight meetings against the Wildcats.
 
AN UTTER DOMINANCE OF THE TIGERS
The Lions hit .321 percent in the win over Texas Southern, which is the third highest in the program's Division I era and it was the first three-set win since October 29, 2022.
 
SMITH KEEPS SHINING
Libero Jade Smith (Mayde Creek), a Temple College transfer shined bright in her debut by earning UTSA Invitational all-tournament honors after the first week of the season. She has 95 digs on the season, which is second in the SLC.
 
NEW ERA BEGINS WITH A BANG
Joe Morales began his tenure as the Lions coach last week and it did not take long for him to earn his first career head coaching win. A&M-Commerce swept Texas Southern in their second match of the season.
 
NEW FACES ON THE BENCH
Morales is joined by Morgan Williams on the coaching staff as an assistant coach, while Makenna Hanssen returns as the program's graduate assistant coach.
 
INTERNATIONAL LOVE
Four countries are represented on the 2023 roster for the Lions. Fourteen players are from the United States, while one each hail from Brazil, Poland, and Germany.
 
GOING STREAKING
This season, the Lions are looking to make the postseason for the 12^th season in a row, which is the longest active streak of any program at A&M-Commerce.
 
BUILDING UPON 2022
Last season was A&M-Commerce's first season in NCAA Division I and the Southland Conference. The season was filled with many historical wins for the Lions, who beat Prairie View A&M for their first Division I win, swept Southeastern, who won the 2023 SLC Tournament and played in the NCAA Tournament, and downed New Orleans in the SLC Tournament.
 
SOUTHLAND PRESEASON POLL
Entering their second season in the Southland Conference, the Lions were picked seventh in the preseason conference poll.
 

1.	HCU (8)	120
2.	Southeastern Louisiana (8)	118
3.	Texas A&M-Corpus Christi	96
4.	McNeese	93
5.	Northwestern State	82
6.	UIW	58
7.	A&M-COMMERCE	55
8.	New Orleans	53
9.	Nicholls	23
10.	Lamar	22

 
SCOUTING THE COMPETITION
The Panthers and the Lions meet for the second straight season, this time in Commerce. Last year, A&M-Commerce cruised to a 3-0 win, which was the first win in the NCAA Division I era and the school's first ever regular season win over a Division I opponent in any sport.
 
Prairie View A&M is 2-4 on the season under first year coach Cheri Lindsay, winning on the road in five sets at Tarleton, and a neutral site five-set win over Northern Colorado. The Panthers have played SLC foes UIW and Houston Christian, having lost to both.
 
Kylee Owens has 61 kills for the Panthers, followed by 55 from Leila Smalls. Leah Lawson has collected 174 assists and her as well as Owens are the team leader with seven service aces. Jaqueline Nino has 77 digs defensively.