NACOGDOCHES – A fight in the third set was not enough for the Texas A&M University-Commerce volleyball team in a 3-0 loss at Stephen F. Austin on Saturday afternoon at Shelton Gym via set scores of 25-12, 25-19, and 29-27.
 
The loss drops A&M-Commerce to 6-11 overall and 3-2 against Southland Conference opponents. The Ladyjacks recorded their 34^th straight win in Shelton Gym and are now 12-5 overall and are 4-0 in SLC action.
 
The Lions won the first point of the match and remained within one of the Ladyjacks at 7-6, but SFA took command of the set, going on a 5-0 run after leading 10-8, and lost just three more points the rest of the set, winning the final eight points in a row.
 
Despite falling behind early by as much as five in the second set as well, the Lions bounced back to tie the set at 14 on a 4-1 run and forced SFA to use a timeout. With the set tied at 16, SFA pulled away on a 6-0 run and though the Lions saved a set point, the Ladyjacks won the second set, 25-19.
 
SFA had the edge to start the third, leading by as much as five, but A&M-Commerce put together a 7-2 run to take a 20-18 lead, which included back-to-back kills from Kitana Tuufuli (St. Hedwig – Steele) resulting in a SFA timeout.
 
The Lions led 22-20, but SFA fought back by taking the next two and fought off the Lions' first set point chance at 24-23. The Ladyjacks had three chances to close out the match, but the Lions took the point each time, until a kill by Isabella Ortiz gave the Ladyjacks a 29-27 set win in the third.
 
Tuufuli led the team with 14 kills, while Ellie Baumert (Dodge, Neb.) totaled 28 assists, and Jade Smith (Houston – Mayde Creek) posted 21 digs. Carley Spachman (Leewood, Kan.) picked up three blocks.
 
UP NEXT
The time on the road continues for the Lions at A&M-Corpus Christi Thursday at 6:30 p.m. and at UTRGV next Saturday at 2 p.m.