COMMERCE – Beginning the season on its home floor for the second straight year, the East Texas A&M University volleyball team suffered a pair of setbacks to Providence, 3-0, and Little Rock, on Friday to begin the Lion Invitational at the Hunt Regional Healthcare Court in the Field House.
 
Match One: PROVIDENCE 3, EAST TEXAS A&M 0
In a back-and-forth first set, the Lions had a chance to win the set at 24-23, but the Friars fought off the first two Lion set points and took it 27-25 on an attacking error.
 
The Friars had a lead as big as 11 in the second set and went on to win it 25-14, taking three of the final five points of the match. The third set was tied at 18, but then Providence used a 6-0 run to earn its first match point of the afternoon.
 
After the Lions fought off the first match point, a blocking error gave the win to the Friars.
 
Both MJ Klaumann (Emerald Isle, N.C.) and Gracie Campbell (Klein Oak) had six kills each, while Campbell totaled 10 digs and Rendi Fetty (Farmersville) finished the match with 10 digs each. Haley Mullaney (Victory Christian Academy) racked 11 assists.
 
Match Two: LITTLE ROCK 3, EAST TEXAS A&M 1
With the first set tied at 13, the Trojans used a 5-1 run to separate themselves, holding the Lions to just four points of the set as they closed out the first on a 4-0 run.
 
The only set win for the Lions on Friday was the second set against Little Rock as a 4-0 run gave East Texas A&M a 21-18 lead. Two attacking errors by Little Rock allowed the Lions to have four chances to win the set and Mullaney served up an ace to seal the set.
 
A 6-1 run to begin the season was all that the Trojans needed as they four of the last five points of the set, taking it 25-18. As the Trojans looked to pick up their first win of the year, the third set was tied at 22, but UALR took the next two to earn two match points and Bella Cherry delivered a kill to end the match with a Little Rock win.
 
For the Lions, Campbell totaled a double-double with 16 kills and 17 digs, while Jade Washington (Waco – Midway) posted 30 digs.
 

POST MATCH INTERVIEW
 
UP NEXT
The Lion Invitational closes out with a matchup against North Texas at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Tickets can be purchased at LionAthletics.com/tickets.