COMMERCE – The 57
th ever meeting between the East Texas A&M University volleyball team against the Abilene Christian Wildcats and the first on the Hunt Regional Healthcare Court in the Field House since 2012 was a thriller as the Lions took a five-set win on Monday night via set scores of 25-23, 13-25, 25-27, 28-26, and 15-13 win.
For the second straight match, the Lions came back from being down two sets to one and won it in five. East Texas A&M is now 2-9 on the season and has won four straight over Abilene Christian, being 31-26 all-time, with both matches going the distance since the two programs moved up to Division I. Abilene Christian is 6-9 this year.
The Lions led 20-16 in the fourth set, but a 6-0 run followed by the Wildcats to jump ahead. The next four points went to the Lions, who had a pair of set points, but both were saved by Abilene Christian, who had a match point at 26-25, but the Lions won the next three to win the set and extend the match on an ace by
Semaj Cox (Missouri City – Elkins).
FOURTH SET WIN HIGHLIGHT
The Wildcats jumped ahead 6-2 in the fifth set, but the Lions came back to tie the set at seven. With the fifth set tied at 11, East Texas A&M won three in a row to have three match points, but the Wildcats won the next two.
Gracie Campbell (Klein Oak) ended things with a kill to deliver a 15-13 set win in the fifth.
FIFTH SET WIN HIGHLIGHT
Dating back to 2023, the Lions are now 9-2 in five-set matches over the last three seasons.
The Lions had a 10-4 lead in the first set to start the night, the Wildcats won nine of the next 10 to take a 13-11 lead. Abilene Christian was up 21-16, but the Lions went on a 7-1 run to jump back ahead, 23-22. A service error allowed the Lions a chance to win the set at 24-23, and
Rendi Fetty (Farmersville) served up an ace to take the first set.
FIRST SET WIN HIGHLIGHT
The first point of the second set went to the Wildcats, who did not trail at any point in the set and cruised to a 25-13 set win on a kill by Aubrey Beaver. East Texas A&M had an 8-5 lead in the third, but the Wildcats stormed back to lead 15-10.
Another rally by the Lions gave them a 20-19 lead and they had a set point at 24-23, but four of the final five points went to the Wildcats, who took a 2-1 lead on an attacking error.
Campbell had a double-double in the match with 22 kills and 12 digs, while also recording two aces.
Haley Mullaney (Victory Christian Academy) posted 39 assists, and 33 digs were recorded by
Jade Washington (Waco – Midway). Fetty picked up 17 digs and two aces.
POST MATCH INTERVIEW
UP NEXT
The Lions begin Southland Conference play on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. against HCU. The first 100 fans will receive a free throwback East Texas A&M shirt in honor of 80's Night. Tickets can be purchased at
LionAthletics.com/tickets.
-ETAMU-
