CORALVILLE, Iowa – Coming back from being down two sets to one, the East Texas A&M University volleyball secured a 15-11 win in the fifth set over the Lindenwood Lions on Saturday afternoon, winning the first match in 2025 via set scores of 25-21, 19-25, 22-25, 25-20, and 15-11 at the Xtream Arena.
 
Saturday was the first five-set match of the season for the Lions, who came out victorious over the defending Ohio Valley Conference champions, Lindenwood. East Texas A&M is now 1-9 on the season, while Lindenwood is 4-3.
 
East Texas A&M trailed just once in the fourth set, while leading by as much as seven in the set. With the set tied at 13, East Texas A&M put together an 8-1 run to jump ahead in the set. The Lions closed out the set on a kill by Peyton Roper (Converse – Judson).
 
The deciding set saw Lindenwood winning the first two points of the set, but the next five were won by East Texas A&M. A 4-0 run gave the Lions a 10-4 lead and despite Lindenwood fighting off a pair of match points, East Texas A&M secured its first win of the season on a service error.
 
The first set was also tied at 13 as East Texas A&M jumped ahead 16-13 on a 4-0 run. Facing set point, Lindenwood went on a 4-0 run, but a kill by MJ Klaumann (Emerald Isle, N.C.) clinched the first set for the Lions.
 
With the second set tied at eight, Lindenwood went on a 10-1 run and despite East Texas A&M serving back a 10-2 run to come within a point, Lindenwood won the final five points of the second set to even the match.
 
Lindenwood had the early edge in the third set, but East Texas A&M won four of five points to bring the deficit down to 22-21. A service error allowed Lindenwood to go on a 3-1 run, winning the set on a kill by Ashley Geluck.
 
Gracie Campbell (Klein Oak) led East Texas A&M with 13 kills, while Roper had 10. Haley Mullaney (Victory Christian Academy) added 24 assists and 10 came from Savannah Jennings (Rosehill Christian). Jade Washington (Waco – Midway) posted 40 digs, followed by 12 from Rendi Fetty (Farmersville).
 
UP NEXT
East Texas A&M opens a three-match home stand next week, hosting Abilene Christian for the non-conference finale at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, followed by HCU on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. and UIW next Saturday at 1 p.m.
 
Monday night is Faculty and Staff Appreciation night for the Lions. All East Texas A&M faculty and staff can contact LionTickets@etamu.edu for a free ticket to the match.