HOUSTON – Non-conference play ended with a 3-1 loss to Ole Miss for the Texas A&M University-Commerce volleyball team on Saturday afternoon at the Fertitta Center to close out the Cougar Challenge via set scores of 25-13, 20-25, 25-20, and 25-20.
 
"Today was an absolutely an amazing game against a good Ole Miss team," said coach Joe Morales. We had the momentum the entire time outside the first set, we needed to finish the third set with the win and could have extended it to five." 
 
"I am extremely proud of the team on how they bounced back from the first two sets against Houston and played well the remainder of the weekend. We had a lot of opportunities to put up more points, but fell short, but we are getting there and playing very well.
 
The Lions picked up three conference wins during non-conference play and head into Southland play with a record of 3-9. Ole Miss is now 10-2 and both teams are 1-1 against each other.
 
The Rebels took eight of the first 11 points of the match and went on to take the first set 25-13, as Ole Miss won 10 of the last 11 points of the set.
 
In the second set, the Lions pulled ahead 5-2 and did not trail in the set, though Ole Miss did tie it at 11. After the Rebels tied the set, the Lions went on to win four of the next five points, but Ole Miss tied the set again at 16.
 
The Lions took command of the set by going on a 5-1 run and closed out on a kill from Carley Spachman (Leewood, Kan.).
 
The third set was controlled by the Lions as they led by as much as four in the set, but the Rebels put together a 9-1 run for five chances to take the set, the Lions saved one set point, but fell 25-20 in the third.
 
Neither side broke away in the fourth until a 7-0 run by Ole Miss to lead 18-13, the Lions came within two three times, but the Rebels won the last three points to take the match.
 
Gracie Campbell (Klein Oak) was the team-leader in kills for the second straight match, recording 12, while Kitana Tuufuli (St. Hedwig – Steele) had 11. Ellie Baumert (Dodge, Neb.) and Savannah Jennings (Rosehill Christian) had 21 and 11 assists, respectively.
 
Defensively, Tuufuli recorded two blocks, while Jade Smith (Houston – Mayde Creek) collected 17 digs and Mille Allgood (Sherwood, Ark.) had nine.
 
Morales concluded, "The setters are managing the offense a lot more and making great plays. This weekend was good to us and finished on a super high tone in, getting us prepared for conference play."
 
UP NEXT
The Lions play three matches next week to begin Southland Conference play, facing Northwestern State on the road at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, hosting UIW at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, and closing out the week against McNeese at 1 p.m. on Saturday at home. Tickets can be purchased at LionAthletics.com/tickets.