COMMERCE - The East Texas A&M University volleyball team enters its penultimate week of non-conference play as it heads to Colorado for the second time in the Division I era, facing Colorado State and Notre Dame in Fort Collins. 

LIONS' SCHEDULE THIS WEEKEND

Date	Opponent	Coverage
Thursday • 7 p.m. central	at Colorado State	Watch | Live Stats
Saturday • 1 p.m. central	vs. Notre Dame (Fort Collins, Colo.)	Live Stats

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. 

WASHINGTON LEADING THE WAY
Freshman libero Jade Washington (Waco - Midway) enters Thursday as the leader in NCAA Division I with an average of 6.16 digs per set. She totaled 37 in a three-set match against Northern Arizona last week. The Lions as a team are 27th in the country with an average of 16.05 digs per set. 

PASS IT TO GRACIE
Through six matches this season, Gracie Campbell (Klein Oak) has an average of 11.65 attacks per set, which puts her first in the Southland Conference and 19th in Division I. The Lions' team average of 37.1 attacks per set is 30th in the country and tops in the Southland. 

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. 

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 first matchup this weekend comes against defending Mountain West champion and NCAA Tournament participant, Colorado State. The Rams are 3-3 on the season thus far, having recorded wins over Colgate, Eastern Washington, and CSUN. Two of the three losses for the Rams came against teams that were receiving votes in the AVCA poll in Washington and Oregon, both in five sets. 

Eve Wilson is the team leader in kills with 79, while Aine Doty has 77 digs to lead the way defensively and Kekua Richards is the blocks leader with 41. 

Notre Dame is 1-3 on the season and plays Colorado State on Friday night, before facing off against the Lions on Saturday. The Fighting Irish's lone win this season came in five sets at home over Santa Clara, while they have fallen to Villanova, Illinois, and LSU. Last season, Notre Dame went 12-17. 

Morgan Gaerte has 89 kills to lead the team, while Maya Evans is the leader with 70 digs, and Chichi Nnaji has team-best 17 blocks.