COMMERCE - Three matches in four days are on deck for the East Texas A&M University volleyball team as the Lions close out non-conference play. The stretch includes a meeting in the Hunt Regional Healthcare Court against Abilene Christian.
LIONS' SCHEDULE COMING UP
FACULTY/STAFF APPRECIATION NIGHT
Monday night is Faculty & Staff Appreciation Night at the Field House. All faculty/staff members will receive a free ticket for themselves and a discounted ticket rate for their family members! Please contact
LionTickets@etamu.edu for more information.
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 5.85 digs per set. She totaled 37 in a three-set match against Northern Arizona on September 6. The Lions as a team are 71st in the country with an average of 15.07 digs per set.
PASS IT TO GRACIE
Through eight matches this season,
Gracie Campbell (Klein Oak) has an average of 11.30 attacks per set, which puts her first in the Southland Conference and 28th in 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.
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 play at Iowa on Friday night to begin the week. The Hawkeyes are 7-3 thus far this season with notable wins over UNLV, Butler, while falling in five sets to Iowa State earlier this week. Iowa is 43rd in the country with an average of 2.62 blocks per set and 40th with an attacking percentage of 0.267. Hannah Whittingstall is averaging 1.34 blocks per set, which is 50th in the country, while Claire Ammeraal's average of 9.26 assists per set is 10th in the Big Ten conference.
The trip to Iowa closes out on Saturday against Lindenwood, a team that won the Ohio Valley Conference title a year ago. Both Lion schools were in the same reclassification class and are eligible for the NCAA Tournament for the first time this season. Lindenwood has recorded wins over UNC Wilmington, NC Central, Virginia Tech, and DePaul, being 4-2 on the season, but Saturday's match against East Texas A&M is the first match since September 20. Autumn Bax is averaging 2.71 kills per set to lead the team, while Dana Grib has an average of 3.92 digs per set.
While the Lions are playing Iowa and Lindenwood for the first time ever this week, they are facing Abilene Christian for the 57th time. This is the first meeting in Commerce for the two teams since 2012, as the programs have played just once prior since then, which was a five-set win in Abilene for East Texas A&M in 2023. The Lions are 30-26 in the series all-time, with the Lions being 13-5 at home.
Abilene Christian is 4-7 on the season, having won over Missouri State, Northwestern State, Grambling, and Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Aubrey Beaver has an average of 3.23 kills per set to lead the team, while Brennan Ramirez has team-best average of 3.74 digs per set.
-ETAMU-
