COMMERCE - The first-place Texas A&M University-Commerce volleyball team begins a stretch of four-straight road matches, with trips to Lamar and Stephen F. Austin this weekend.
LIONS' SCHEDULE THIS WEEK
HISTORIC START TO SLC PLAY
Last week, the Lions played their first three conference matches and came out victorious over Northwestern State on the road, and both UIW and McNeese at home. It marks the first 3-0 start to conference play for A&M-Commerce since 2019, which was also the last conference championship for the program. A&M-Commerce's 3-0 record against SLC opponents is tied with Southeastern atop the conference standings. The Lions started 4-0 in conference play in 2019, the last 5-0 start was in 1994.
BAUMERT, SMITH NOTCH SLC HONORS
Thanks to the great start to conference play,
Ellie Baumert (Dodge, Neb.) and
Jade Smith (Houston - Mayde Creek) were named the conference's setter and defensive player of the week, respectively, earlier this week. Baumert recorded double-doubles in every match last week and averaged 9.0 assists per set, while Smith is the conference leader in digs and digs per set average.
STREAK SNAPPED AGAINST THE TIGERS
The Lions entered the match against Tennessee State on a seven-match losing streak, but the skid was snapped with a five-set win over Tennessee State. The Lions took the first two sets, while the Tigers won the next two to force a fifth set. WIth the fifth set win, A&M-Commerce is now 2-1 in five-set matches this year. In the win, both
Ellie Baumert (Dodge, Neb.) and
Reese Fetty (Farmersville) recorded double-doubles in the win. A&M-Commerce has won four of five since playing Tennessee State.
TOUGH PATCH ENDS ON THE ROAD
The Lions had lost their first three true road matches of the season, but swept Northwestern State last Tuesday to record the first road win of the season, which was also the first win over Lady Demons away from Commerce. A&M-Commerce is now 4-1 at home as well.
STRONG START TO THE SEASON
After dropping the season opener to Little Rock, the Lions caught fire to down Central Arkansas in five sets and Tarleton in four to start 2-1 to start the season, which was the program's best start to a season since the spring 2021 season.
SMITH CATCHES FIRE
Smith totaled 79 digs in the three matches at the Lion Invitational, recording just three receiving errors, which was the best in the Southland. As a result, Smith was named the conference's first Defensive Player of the Week, the first of the year. She had 29 in the win over Central Arkansas and 23 in the win over Tarleton. She was also named to the all-tournament team at TCU.
WILKS CAN'T MISS
Avery Wilks (Mont Belvieu - Barbers Hill) was near-perfect in the win over the Texans, recording 10 kills in 11 attempts. For her performance in the Lion win, Wilks was named to the Lion Invitational All-Tournament team.
RARE START AT HOME
The Lion Invitational marked the first time the Lions are beginning the season at home in a non-COVID affected season since 2009. The other three teams in the Lion Invitational are Little Rock, Central Arkansas, and Tarleton. The last time the Lions opened at home was the spring 2021 season.
WHAT IS NEXT FOR THE LIONS
The Lions continue the road swing at A&M-Corpus Christi and UTRGV next week.
HELLO NEW LIONS
This season, the Lions debut nine newcomers in the lineup. Of the nine newcomers, two are freshmen, while seven are transfers. The freshmen for the program this year are
Semaj Cox (Missouri City - Elkins) and
Nevaeh Smith (San Antonio - O'Connor), while the transfers are
Ellie Baumert (Dodge, Neb.) from Texas Tech,
Brooke Box (Klein Collins) from UTRGV,
Kylie Bray (Concordia Lutheran) from Blinn College,
Gracie Campbell (Klein Oak),
Savannah Jennings (Rosehill Christian) from Lee,
MJ Klaumann (Emerald Isle, N.C.) from USC Upstate, and
Maselina Tuufuli (Saint Hedwig - Steele) from Pepperdine.
Baumert, Campbell, and Tuufuli competed for the Lions during the spring season.
GOING STREAKING
This season, the Lions are looking to make the postseason for the 13
th season in a row, which is the longest active streak of any program at A&M-Commerce.
TIDE ROLLED
Last season, A&M-Commerce downed Alabama in a five-set match on September 8 for A&M-Commerce's first win over a Power Five conference opponent. The Lions fell behind 2-1 in the match, but took the final two sets. It is the first ever win over an SEC opponent in school history in any sport. This Saturday's matchup against Ole Miss marks the first meeting against a SEC opponent since then.
BLAZERS TAMED
Last year, the Lions followed the win over Alabama with a win over UAB the next day. The Blazers took the first set, but A&M-Commerce took the next three sets, including a comeback from being down 23-17 in the second set.
A NEW-LOOK SOUTHLAND
The Southland Conference adds two members this season in Stephen F. Austin and UTRGV. In the preseason SLC poll, the Ladyjacks, a 2023 NCAA Tournament participant, were picked to win the SLC, while the Vaqueros were picked second. The Lions were picked 10th by the conference's head coaches and sports information directors.
2024 Preseason Southland Volleyball Poll
- SFA – 233 (17)
- UTRGV – 212 (3)
- Southeastern – 207 (2)
- Texas A&M-Corpus Christi – 198
- HCU – 159 (2)
- McNeese – 144
- Northwestern State – 120
- UIW – 89
- New Orleans – 74
- A&M-COMMERCE – 70
- Lamar – 53
- Nicholls – 25
SUCCESS IN THE CLASSROOM
This offseason, the Lions once again received the AVCA Team Academic Award, marking the seventh consecutive year that the Lions received the award, while also being among the top 20 percent in NCAA Division I.
RIVALRY RE-IGNITED WITH THE TEXANS
August 31 marked a historic moment for the Lions as they hosted Tarleton for the first time since 2018, the two rivals had played five times since, with four of the matches in Stephenville and a 3-0 win for the Texans at UAB last season. The Lions are now 2-1 over the Texans in the Division I era for both teams, while the Texans are 24-23 all-time against the Lions.
SCOUTING THE COMPETITION
Lamar is off to a 9-5 start this season and went 1-1 last weekend to begin Southland play. The Cardinals fell to Southeastern, while sweeping New Orleans. In non-conference play, the Cardinals recorded marquee non-conference wins over Sam Houston, Memphis, and Prairie View A&M twice. Lyric Jordan has team-high 176 kills on an average of 3.74 kills per set, while Maja Malinowska is averaging 3.98 kills per set with 175 total kills. Alexa Gonzalez has tallied 10.44 assists per set and Keeley Nellis is averaging 4.6 digs per set. Last season, the Lions came out on top in both meetings over the Cardinals.
Saturday marks the first meeting as SLC foes for Stephen F. Austin and A&M-Commerce. The two former conference rivals meet for the 29th time on Saturday, with the Lions being 17-11 in the series. SFA swept the Lions in Nacogdoches in 2022, which was the first meeting since 1987. The Ladyjacks have won 33 matches in a row at home and face Houston Christian on the road Thursday. SFA played in the NCAA Tournament a year ago and has recorded non-conference wins over Prairie View A&M, Sam Houston, Air Force, Boise State, while being 2-0 in SLC play. Kyanna Creecy has earned one SLC Player of the Week honor for the Ladyjacks.
-TAMUC-
