COMMERCE - Texas A&M University-Commerce volleyball team closes out a stretch of four-straight matches on the road this weekend at A&M-Corpus Christi and UTRGV.  

LIONS' SCHEDULE THIS WEEKEND

Date	Opponent	Coverage
Thursday • 6:30 p.m.	at A&M-Corpus Christi	Watch (ESPN+) | Live Stats
Saturday • 2 p.m.	at Stephen F. Austin	Watch (ESPN+) | Live Stats

COOLED OFF ON THE ROAD
After starting 3-0 in conference play, the Lions fell in two matches last week at Lamar and Stephen F. Austin, but A&M-Commerce is still third in the SLC standings. 

LET'S GET FAMILIARIZE OURSELVES
The next four matches for the Lions come against the Islanders and the Vaqueros. After facing the two teams on the road this weekend, the Lions see them at home next weekend. 

HISTORIC START TO SLC PLAY
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 marked the first 3-0 start to conference play for A&M-Commerce since 2019, which was also the last conference championship for the program.

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 has recorded double-doubles in every conference match, 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. 

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

1. SFA – 233 (17)
2. UTRGV – 212 (3)
3. Southeastern – 207 (2)
4. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi – 198
5. HCU  – 159 (2)
6. McNeese – 144
7. Northwestern State – 120
8. UIW – 89
9. New Orleans – 74
10. A&M-COMMERCE – 70
11. Lamar – 53
12. 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
A&M-Corpus Christi is 7-8 on the season, having won three straight conference matches. The lone loss in SLC play for the Islanders came at SFA. During the non-conference portion of the schedule, A&M-Corpus Christi picked up a notable win over Texas Tech and is 4-0 at home this season. The Islanders are led by this week's SLC Offensive Player of the Week Kyndal Payne, who is averaging 3.5 kills per set, while Alex Hoglund averages 9.2 assists per set, and Kayla White averages 3.5 digs per set. 

The Lions face SLC newcomer UTRGV on Saturday afternoon for the sixth time overall and first as conference foes. The two teams last played in 2001 and the Lions hold a 4-1 advantage in the series that dates back to 1985. The only prior meeting in Edinburg was a five-set win for A&M-Commerce. The Vaqueros, who were picked to finish second in the preseason SLC rankings are 6-8 on the season and 2-2 in conference play, having lost to SFA and A&M-Corpus Christi. A pair of Vaqueros earned SLC weekly honors on Monday with Celianiz Cabranes being named the Defensive Player of the Week and Isabella Costantini earning Setter Week of the honors. Cabranes is averaging 4.4 digs per set, while Costantini is averaging 10.9 assists per set, and Ilana De Assis is totaling 4.1 kills per set.