COMMERCE – The Prairie View A&M Panthers came-from-behind to down the Texas A&M University-Commerce volleyball team in four sets on Tuesday night, which was the Lions home opener in The Field House by set scores of 21-25, 25-16, 25-22, and 25-14.
 
"We played a very well coached and athletic team tonight," said coach Joe Morales. "The crowd was amazing, and I definitely appreciate their support and hope they keep coming back."
 
"The team battled, and the cards were not in our favor, but we continue to learn and grow. We showed some fight and need to figure out how to keep it going. We will definitely get there."
 
The Lions built a 6-2 lead early in the first, which provided the cushion they needed to not trail again in the rest of the set. Trailing 23-15, the Panthers made things interesting by winning six in a row, but an attacking error opened up a set point opportunity for the Lions, and another attacking error sealed the first set, 25-21.
 
In the second set, the Panthers jumped out front early, 9-3, and the Lions did get to within two, but Panthers pushed the lead to 16-9 and closed it out, 25-16, on a service ace. In the third set, neither side could break loose until a 3-0 run provided PVAMU with a 10-8 lead.
 
The Lions, behind two straight attacking errors, took a 12-11 lead, but Prairie View A&M won the next five points and went on to lead 24-19. The Lions won three straight points to pull to, 24-22, but a service error gave the Panthers a 2-1 lead in the match.
 
The Panthers distanced themselves in the fourth set with a 9-1 run when the match was tied at four. A&M-Commerce did not muster up a rally and the Panthers took the fourth set, 25-14, on back-to-back kills.
 
In her first collegiate match at home, Kitana Tuufuli (St. Hedwig – Steele) posted 14 kills and a block, while Peyton Roper (Converse – Judson) had eight. Breann Connally (Coolidge – Groesbeck) recorded 20 assists, three blocks, two digs, and a kill. Peyton Plant (Littleton, Colo.) added 10 assists and six digs.
 
Jade Smith (Houston – Mayde Creek), who entered the day sitting in the second in the Southland for digs, had 27 on Tuesday night, while Taylor Borden (Gregory-Portland) had 13. Avery Wilks (Mont Belvieu – Barbers Hills) recorded six blocks in her home debut.
 
The Lions drop to 2-6 on the season, having lost four in a row, while the Panthers are now 3-4 on the season.
 
UP NEXT
A&M-Commerce travels to Alabama for the Blazer Classic this weekend. The Lions face longtime rival Tarleton (11 a.m.) and Alabama (4 p.m.) on Friday, rounding out the weekend against the hosts, UAB, on Saturday at 2 p.m.