COMMERCE - The East Texas A&M University volleyball team ends the first half of Southland Conference this week with a home match against Nicholls on Wednesday night and then plays at McNeese to close out the week.
LIONS' SCHEDULE THIS WEEKEND
PINK OUT
Wednesday is the annual Pink Out match for East Texas A&M, presented by Hunt Regional Healthcare. All fans in attendance are encouraged to wear pink in honor of breast cancer awareness.
FULL DIVISION I MEMBERS
East Texas A&M University received approval from the NCAA in June 2025 for its expedited transition process to become full NCAA Division I members and become immediately eligible for NCAA sponsored postseason events. The Lions look to make the NCAA Tournament at any level for the first time since 2019.
ANOTHER WIN ON THE ROAD
Last Thursday, the Lions rolled to a three-set win over New Orleans, its second win a row in the Big Easy and picking up the second win on the road this season in conference play.
Gracie Campbell (Klein Oak) had a double-double in the match.
WASHINGTON EARNS SLC HONORS
Jade Washington (Waco - Midway) was named the Southland Conference defensive player of the week on Monday. She totaled 40 digs in seven sets last week, totaling 19 digs in the win over New Orleans and then added 21 digs in the four-set loss at two-time defending Southland champion, Southeastern.
DOWN GO THE DEFENDING SLC TOURNEY CHAMPS
Losing the first set on the road to A&M-Corpus Christi on October 2, the Lions won the next three to down the Islanders, who won the SLC Tournament a year ago, for the first time ever. The Lions had just three attacking errors in the final three sets and hit .448. In the six prior meetings against the Islanders, East Texas A&M had won just two sets total.
THE LIONS GO ON FIRE TO WIN TWO FIVE-SETTERS
After being down 2-1 to Lindenwood, East Texas A&M took the next two sets to win its first match of the season, having downed the defending Ohio Valley Conference champions.
Jade Washington (Waco - Midway) had 40 digs in the match, becoming the first player in NCAA Division I recording 40 or more digs in a match this season.
The Lions followed up the win over Lindenwood in Iowa by picking up its first win at home on September 22 against Abilene Christian. Facing a match point, the Lions took the fourth and fifth sets to move to 2-0 over the Wildcats over the last three seasons.
CARDIAC LIONS
Three matches have gone the distance for the Lions this season, being 2-1 in those matches. Since 2023, East Texas A&M is 9-4 in matches that go the distance.
WASHINGTON LEADING THE WAY
Freshman libero Washington enters Wednesday as the leader in NCAA Division I with an average of 5.81 digs per set. She was also the first player in NCAA Division I to record 40 or more digs in a match, picking up 40 in the win over Lindenwood.
PASS IT TO GRACIE
Through 17 matches this season, Campbell has an average of 11.86 attacks per set, which puts her first in the Southland Conference and also 13th in NCAA Division I.
STARTING IN THE FRIENDLY CONFINES
For the second straight year, East Texas A&M hosted the Lion Invitational to begin the season. It marked the second consecutive season that the Lions played at home. Prior to last season, the last time that the Lions opened the season at home outside of the COVID affected shortened Spring 2021 season, was 2009. East Texas A&M also hosts the Southland Conference tournament this season.
HELLO NEW LIONS
The Lions welcome plenty of new faces to the squad this season, bringing in new newcomers, of which five are transfers, while four are freshmen. Every new Lion has appeared in at least one set through the first six matches of the season.
GOING STREAKING
This season, the Lions are looking to make the postseason for the 14
th season in a row, which is the longest active streak of any program at East Texas A&M. The Lions are hosts of the Southland Tournament this year as they look to clinch a spot in the eight-team tournament and play a postseason match at home for the first time since 2019.
TIDE ROLLED
In 2023, the Lions downed Alabama in a five-set match on September 8 for East Texas A&M'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.
BLAZERS TAMED
The Lions followed the win over Alabama with a win over UAB the next day. The Blazers took the first set, but East Texas A&M took the next three sets, including a comeback from being down 23-17 in the second set.
SUCCESS IN THE CLASSROOM
This offseason, the Lions once again received the AVCA Team Academic Award, marking the eighth consecutive year that the Lions received the award, being one of the longest active streaks in NCAA Division I.
SCOUTING THE COMPETITION
The Lions take on Nicholls on the Hunt Regional Healthcare Court on Wednesday night. The Colonels are are 10-9 on the season, but 0-6 against conference opponents, having lost eight in a row coming into Wednesday. The Colonels recorded notable non-conference wins over Tennessee State and Grambling. Tamara Chavez has an average of 4.30 kills per set, which leads the team, while Isabella Padilla is averaging 8.14 assists per set, and Karina Smith is recording 2.64 digs per set. Last season, the Lions won in Thibodaux.
McNeese 5-13 overall, 1-5 in conference play, and plays at Northwestern State on Wednesday before hosting the Lions on Saturday morning. The Cowgirls have recorded non-conference wins over Tulane, Southern Illinois in non-conference play and downed New Orleans in five sets for the lone conference win. A win in the Field House last season was the first for East Texas A&M in the Division I era against McNeese. D'Nari Mills is averaging 2.85 kills per set to lead the team, followed by Lauren Fuller averaging 3.61 digs per set, and Jordan Gamble is averaging 0.81 blocks per set.
-ETAMU-
