HOUSTON – The Texas A&M University-Commerce volleyball team survived a late scare from Tennessee State to snap a seven-match losing streak with a 3-2 win on Friday afternoon in the Fertitta Center as part of the Cougar Challenge via set scores of 25-23, 25-21, 23-25, 14-25, and 15-12.
 
For the Lions, Gracie Campbell (Klein Oak) led the way with 16 kills, while both Reese Fetty (Farmersville) and Ellie Baumert (Dodge, Neb.) had double-doubles. A&M-Commerce is now 3-8 on the season, while Tennessee State is 4-7.
 
"I am proud of the team for finding a way to win today, said coach Joe Morales. "Going up 2-0, we must continue to figure out how to win and finish. We keep getting tested, but we are learning and growing. Patience is the key."
 
"The biggest test is learning to be consistent even when changes happen, and they will continue to see lots of change. For now, excited about adding another W in the column. We are going to enjoy this one and then get back at it again against Ole Miss."
 
The Tigers had the early lead in the first set, but the Lions put together a 3-0 run and then led by as much 10-6 on a kill by Carley Spachman (Leewood, Kan.). A 5-0 run flipped the lead back to the Tigers, who had a lead as big as four in the first set.
 
A 4-0 run late in the set, put Tennessee State just two points away from taking the first, 23-18, but then the Lions did not lose a point the rest of the way, as back-to-back kills from Campbell sealed the first set.
 
Neither team found separation in the second set, until another late scoring run from the Tigers put them ahead 19-15. The Lions then won the next three to stay alive in the set and closed out the set on a 5-0 run, winning the set on a kill by Spachman.
 
Trailing by as much as seven in the third set, the Lions came all the way back to tie the set at 23 on an assisted block by Spachman and Peyton Roper (Converse – Judson), but the Tigers recovered to win the next two points and force a fourth set.
 
The Tigers won the first two points of the set in the fourth and never trailed as they took the set, 25-14 and forced a deciding fifth set. This was the third five-set match of the season for the Lions, who came into the match being 1-1.
 
Both teams exchanged scoring runs, until a 4-0 run from A&M-Commerce, which included two TSU attacking errors, put A&M-Commerce up front 13-9. The Tigers did win three of the next four, to pull to 14-12, but a kill from Kitana Tuufuli (St. Hedwig – Steele) gave the Lions their 15^th point of the set and ended the seven-match losing streak.
 
Along with Campbell's 16 kills, Fetty had 12 kills to go with 11 digs, while both Tuufuli and Avery Wilks (Mont Belvieu – Barbers Hill) had eight kills each.
 
Baumert posted 43 assists as well as 10 digs, while Fetty picked up 11 digs for her double-double and Kylie Bray (Concordia Lutheran) had 12 digs. Baumert served up three aces as well.
 
UP NEXT
The Lions close out the Cougar Challenge and non-conference play against Ole Miss on Saturday at 2 p.m. A&M-Commerce is 1-0 all-time against the Rebels and 1-0 against SEC opponents in the Division I era.