COMMERCE – The first matchup between the Texas A&M University-Commerce volleyball team and Tarleton State in the Field House on Hunt Regional Healthcare Court since 2018 lived up to the hype as the Lions came out on top 3-1 on Saturday afternoon, wrapping up the Lion Invitational.
 
The Lions won via set scores of 25-23, 25-20, 15-25, and 25-18, for the second win over the Texans in three meetings between the two programs since both schools moved up to NCAA Division I. A&M-Commerce has started the season with a record of 2-1, its best start to a season since the COVID-19 affected Spring 2021 season.
 
Neither side was able to separate itself in the first set as it was tied at 20, until a service error by the Texans gave the Lions the serve back and a kill from Avery Wilks (Mont Belvieu – Barber Hills) and another from Reese Fetty (Farmersville) put the Lions up front 23-20.
 
The Texans took the next two points, but a kill from Peyton Roper (Converse – Judson) gave the Lions their first set point and attacking error by the Texans gave the Lions the first set.
 
The second set followed the script of the first set as it was at 18, but a kill by Fetty, an attacking error, and an ace from Fetty kickstarted a 5-0 run for the Lions, as Kitana Tuufuli (St. Hedwig – Steele) and another ace from Fetty put the Lions two points away from leading 2-0 in the match.
 
After surrendering two points in a row, a service error gave the Lions four set points and a kill from MJ Klaumann (Emerald Isle, N.C.) bagged the second set, 25-20.
 
The third set was tied at four, until a 10-1 run from the Texans put them in control of the third set. The Lions fought off one set points, but lost the set, 25-15.
 
The Lions served back an early start in the fourth set, leading 9-4 and had a lead as big as seven in the fourth set. Hitting .324 in the fourth set, a service error by the Texans sealed the win for the Lions.
 
Fetty led the way with a double-double, totaling 13 kills and 13 digs, as well as four blocks, while Wilks posted 10 kills to go along with five blocks, hitting .909 in the match. Tuufuli recorded 10 kills. Jade Smith (Houston – Mayde Creek) picked up 23 digs, while Millie Allgood (Sherwood, Ark.) totaled 12 and served up two aces.
 
Savannah Jennings (Rosehill Christian) recorded 19 assists and Ellie Baumert (Dodge, Neb.) picked up 21 assists.
 
This weekend, Wilks totaled 20 kills and 12 blocks, thus earning all-tournament team honors, the full all-tournament team can be found below.
 
LION INVITATIONAL ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Jeila Fullerton, Little Rock
Kaila Harris, Little Rock
Avery Wilks, A&M-Commerce
Caylan Koons, Central Arkansas
Allison Bryant, Tarleton
 
UP NEXT
The Lions head to East Carolina next week for the Pirate Invitational, facing Western Carolina 11 a.m. eastern, and the hosts, Pirates 7 p.m. eastern, on Friday and North Carolina A&T next Saturday at 11 a.m. eastern.