PHOENIX – Despite taking the first set, the East Texas A&M University volleyball fell in four sets to Washington State on Sunday afternoon via set scores of 25-27, 25-23, 25-17, and 25-22, on Sunday afternoon to close out the GCU Classic at Global Credit Union Arena.
 
The Lions took an early 5-3 lead in the first set and despite a 5-0 run from the Cougars to take a 14-13 lead, East Texas A&M took a 16-14 lead, winning the next three.
 
The first set was tied at 18, but the Cougars had three chances to close out the set, leading 24-21, but the Lions won the next four, including two kills from Gracie Campbell (Klein Oak) to have their first set point chance of the day.
 
The Cougars fought off the first set point, but following a Washington State service error, the Lions took the first set on an attacking error.

Lions take the first set! #HailET

After fighting off a pair of set points, East Texas A&M leads 1-0 in the match! pic.twitter.com/is2VPyGoso

— East Texas A&M Volleyball (@Lion_Volleyball) September 7, 2025

FIRST SET WIN HIGHLIGHT
 
The Lions led 4-1 to begin the second set, but a 9-2 run put the Cougars ahead for the first time in the second, 16-11. East Texas A&M came back to come within 21-20 but could not jump ahead the rest of the set as WSU won the set on a kill by Melina Christodoulou.
 
In the third set, the Lions had an early advantage of 6-4, but Washington State won 7 of the next eight, leading it 11-7. A 12-2 run gave Washington State a chance to take the third set at 24-14. Despite the Lions taking the next three, Washington State won the third set on an attacking error.
 
Both teams split the first 14 points of the fourth set, but it was Washington State once again that separated itself with a 4-1 run. With the Cougars leading 23-17, the Lions won five of the next six, but a kill by Lucie Blazkova closed out the match for the Cougars.
 
The loss drops the Lions to 0-6 on the season, while the Cougars are now 3-3 on the season.
 
Campbell led the way with 20 kills for the Lions as well as three aces, while Katelyn Pritchard (McAllen) recorded a double-double with 18 assists and 12 digs. Haley Mullaney (Victory Christian Academy) added 19 assists and Jade Washington (Waco – Midway) totaled 26 digs.
 
UP NEXT
Two matches in Fort Collins, Colorado, are next for the Lions as they face Colorado State at 7 p.m. central on Thursday and Notre Dame on Saturday at 1 p.m. central.