COMMERCE – Despite taking the first set, the Texas A&M University-Commerce volleyball team lost the next three to fall to UTRGV on Saturday afternoon in the Field House via set scores of 18-25, 25-13, 25-19, 25-16 at Hunt Regional Healthcare Court.
 
In the first set, the Lions won the first six points of the match, which included two kills from Kitana Tuufuli (St. Hedwig – Steele) and despite the Vaqueros storming back to come to within two at 10-8, the Lions used a late 5-0 run to lead 21-12 and won the set on a kill by Ellie Baumert (Dodge, Neb.).
 
The Vaqueros answered by winning the first four points of the second set and led 7-1. UTRGV won the final six points of the set as it hit .556 and leveled the match. In the third set, despite the Lions leading 3-1, the next five points went to the Vaqueros, who did not trail again in the set.
 
After losing the first two points of the set, the Lions won the next three and had a 15-13 lead, but 10 straight points went UTRGV's way, who after losing a point, won the next two to win the match in four.
 
Tuufuli was the team's leader in kills with 14, while Baumert had 25 assists, and Jade Smith (Houston – Mayde Creek) had 25 digs. Smith and Baumert served up two aces as well.
 
The trio of Baumert, Carley Spachman (Leewood, Kan.), and Avery Wilks (Mont Belvieu – Barbers Hill) picked up three blocks each.
 
The Lions fall to 6-15 overall and 3-6 against Southland Conference opponents, having lost six in a row, while UTRGV is now 10-8 overall and 6-2 in SLC action.
 
UP NEXT
The three-match home stand ends next Saturday at 1 p.m. against Houston Christian. Tickets can be purchased at LionAthletics.com/Tickets.