COMMERCE – Playing its first home match in over a month, the East Texas A&M University volleyball team defeated LSU New Orleans 3-1 on Thursday night, winning 25-16, 21-25, 25-21, 25-19, on the Hunt Regional Healthcare Court in the Field House.
The Lions hit .255 with 56 kills and 10 service aces while holding the Privateers to a .136 hitting percentage. East Texas A&M's 10 service aces exceeded its season average of 8.33. The Lions have won two straight to improve to 2-1 in Southland Conference play and 8-8 overall, while the Privateers fall to 2-14 overall and 0-3 in conference play.
The Privateers opened the first set with the first three points, but the Lions worked back within 6-4 behind kills from
Gracie Campbell (Klein Oak),
Sabine Wenzel (Melrose, Mass.), and
Ariana Brown (Conroe). Brown followed with three straight Lions kills to tie the set and put the Lions in front.
Jade Washington (Waco – Midway)'s serve carried the run through a
Sediong Scott (Houston – Elsik) kill and a service ace for a 12-6 lead.
After NOLA pulled within 12-8, the Lions answered with another surge that included two
Haley Mullaney (Decatur) aces and two blocks by
Samantha Mosley (Atlanta) and Scott to move ahead 17-8. The Lions stayed in front from there, reached set point on Brown's kill, and closed the set 25-16 on Scott's kill.
NOLA opened the second set with the first three points before Mosley got the Lions on the board with a kill from Mullaney. The Lions worked back from 9-6 as Mullaney and Scott produced kills around a NOLA attack error, tying the set at 9-9. Scott added another kill to make it 10-10. The Privateers moved back ahead 15-12, but a block by Campbell and Wenzel and kills from Brown helped the Lions pull even again at 16-16. NOLA took four of the next five points for a 20-17 edge, and after the Lions got back within 22-21 on Mosley's kill, the Privateers claimed the final three points to win the set 25-21.
The Lions started the third set with a kill by Campbell, a NOLA attack error, and a Brown ace, then built the margin to 11-6 behind multiple kills from Wenzel. The Privateers worked back into the set and tied it at 13-13 before the Lions moved back in front, reaching 18-15 on Campbell's kill from
Katelyn Pritchard (McAllen). NOLA answered with four straight points to go ahead 19-18, but Mullaney's kill tied the set and the Lions pushed ahead 20-19 on a NOLA attack error. After the Privateers tied it again at 20-20, Pritchard, Brown, and another NOLA attack error gave the Lions a 23-20 lead. Brown's kill followed by a Mosley-Scott block closed the set 25-21. Pritchard set a career high with 22 assists during the match.
Pritchard served the Lions through a four-point push from 6-3 to 10-3, including her ace, a Mullaney-Wenzel block, and a Campbell kill. NOLA cut into the gap after the Lions led 11-4, pulling within 11-9, and later stayed close at 13-12. The Lions continued to answer with kills from Scott, Mosley, Mullaney, and Brown, then moved from 19-17 to 22-17 on kills by Mullaney, Brown, and Scott. Mosley's kill brought up set point at 24-19, and
Semaj Cox (Missouri City – Elkins) finished the set with a service ace for a 25-19 Lions win.
Brown led the Lions with 15 kills and 17.0 points while adding 10 digs and two service aces. Her 15 kills also surpassed her season average of 12.4. Campbell recorded at least 10 kills for the third consecutive match. Washington recorded a team-high 27 digs, surpassing her season average of 18.27, and added six assists.
Scott finished with 10 kills on a .625 hitting percentage and matched the team lead with five total blocks.
Rendi Fetty registered a season-high 14 digs.
Mullaney tied for the team lead with 22 assists and added 11 digs, three service aces, and three total blocks. Mullaney also reached a milestone with her 27th career service ace, including three in the match, and reached 1,000 assists as a Lion.
The Lions recorded a season-high 82 digs and totaled nine blocks, surpassing their season average of 8.13.
POST MATCH INTERVIEW
UP NEXT
East Texas A&M hosts Southeastern on Saturday at 11 a.m. in the Field House. Tickets can be purchased at
LionAthletics.com/tickets.
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