NATCHITOCHES, La. – Hitting .311 for the entire match on Tuesday night, the Texas A&M University-Commerce volleyball team swept Northwestern State via set scores of 25-23, 25-21, and 25-19, inside Prather Coliseum in the Southland Conference opener.
The Lions have won the conference opener for the first time in the Division I era and for the first time since spring of 2021. It is also the first time the Lions have won the conference opener on the road since 2015.
The 3-0 sweep over the Lady Demons is the first time the Lions have downed NSU outside of Commerce in four tries since joining the Southland and it is the first road sweep in conference play since September 28 last season at New Orleans. The wins also snaps a 10-match losing skid against SLC opponents.
The Lions were led on Tuesday night by
Kitana Tuufuli (St. Hedwig – Steele), who hit .485 in the match, and
Reese Fetty (Farmersville), who hit .410, which are both top 20 all-time in program history, minimum of 20 attempts. Tuufuli's attacking performance on Tuesday puts her sixth all-time in a single match in program history.
Ellie Baumert (Dodge, Neb.) and
Jade Smith (Houston – Mayde Creek) had double-doubles in the match for the Lions as well.
Both teams exchanged scoring runs early in the match, with the set being tied at 21. Back-to-back kills from Fetty put the Lions ahead 23-21 in the set, and a kill by
Peyton Roper (Converse – Judson) put the Lions a point away from winning the set. After a NSU point win, Fetty closed out the set with a kill.
FIRST SET WIN HIGHLIGHT
After Tuufuli delivered a kill on the first point of the second set, the Lady Demons took the next four, though the Lions did tie the set at four. After another 3-0 run by the Lions to lead 13-10, NSU won the next two, but A&M-Commerce served back a 4-1 run for some separation in the set.
The Lady Demons came within one twice in the set, but the Lions had their first set point of the second set, and took a 2-0 lead in the match on a Lady Demon attacking error.
SECOND SET WIN HIGHLIGHT
In the third set, the Lady Demons remained up front, until the Lions pulled ahead 9-7 on a 4-0 run. Despite NSU tying the set at 10, the Lions won the next six, including three straight kills from Fetty, and went on to lead 19-11 on back-to-back kills from
Gracie Campbell (Klein Oak).
The Lady Demons came within four, but a kill from Tuufuli opened five match points for the Lions and another attacking error gave the Lions their first conference win of the year.
MATCH WIN HIGHLIGHT
Tuufuli led the Lions with 18 kills, while Fetty had 17 along with eight digs.
Avery Wilks (Mont Belvieu – Barbers Hill) served up two aces. Fetty, Wilks, and
Carley Spachman (Leewood, Kan.) recorded two blocks each.
Baumert picked up 26 assists and 16 digs for a double-double, while Smith tallied 22 digs and 11 assists for her double-double.
POST MATCH INTERVIEW
UP NEXT
The Lions are back home to host UIW on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. and McNeese at 1 p.m. on Saturday. Tickets can be purchased at
LionAthletics.com/Tickets.
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