CORPUS CHRISTI – The Texas A&M University-Commerce volleyball team was downed in four sets on Thursday night by the A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders at the Dugan Wellness Center via set scores of 25-20, 17-25, 25-18, and 25-22.
Ellie Baumert (Dodge, Neb.) recorded a double-double for the fifth time in Southland Conference play for the Lions, while
Gracie Campbell (Klein Oak) also picked up a double-double.
"Our team was dialed in on this match from scouting report and playing, and we did a good job executing the game plan," said coach
Joe Morales. "We need to control the tangibles of the game on our side of the court, that is where we struggle, too many service error and unforced errors. When playing a good ball-controlled team, we cannot miss on those things. We did do lots of good things to compete and show that we can be there at the as the season matures. Now it's time to regroup and get ready for Saturday, we are still on pace and that's been the message."
The Lions took five of the first seven points of the match, but the Islanders fought back to tie the set and broke open a 12-9 led. Leading 19-18 in the first, the Islanders used a 4-0 run to build some separation and closed out the first set, 25-20.
The second set was close early on as well, but the Lions used a 3-1 run to jump out front 15-13, and after the Islanders won two in a row to pull to within 19-17, A&M-Commerce took the next six points, including two aces from Baumert and tied the match at one. The Lions hit .300 in the second with four aces and just one service error.
The Islanders never trailed in the third set, leading the set 5-2, and had a lead as big as nine in the set. A&M-Commerce, who was trailing 16-9, made things interesting by going on a 5-0 run, but following a timeout, the Islanders took three of the next five and closed out the set on a 4-1 run.
Looking to close out the match, the Islanders jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the fourth, but the Lions came right back to tie it at four. Both teams exchanged scoring runs until a 7-1 run opened a 15-9 lead for the Islanders. Though, the Lions fought back again to tie the set at 16 on a 6-0 run, but back came the Islanders with a 4-0 run.
Despite A&M-Commerce saving two match points, the Lions fell 25-22 in the fourth.
Baumert tallied her eighth double-double of the season with 36 assists and 10 digs, while serving up five aces and Campbell totaled 16 kills and 11 digs.
Carley Spachman (Leewood, Kan.) had seven blocks and
Avery Wilks (Mont Belvieu – Barbers Hill) picked up eight kills, four digs, and two blocks.
Kitana Tuufuli (St. Hedwig – Steele) was the team leader in kills with 19, while
Jade Smith (Houston – Mayde Creek) picked up 15 digs and six assists. A&M-Commerce had 13 service errors in the match.
The Lions have lost three in a row to fall to 6-12 on the season and 3-3 in SLC play, while the Islanders have won their last four to improve to 8-8 overall and 3-2 in SLC action. The two teams meet again in Commerce next week for the Kickin' Cancer match.
UP NEXT
The trip down to South Texas concludes at 2 p.m. on Saturday at UTRGV.
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