COMMERCE – The East Texas A&M University volleyball team lost to Stephen F. Austin on Wednesday evening on the Hunt Regional Court at the Field House. ET kept the first two sets close at 22-25 and 24-26 before dropping the third 18-25.
The opening set stayed even early until SFA used consecutive service to move in front 5-3, but kills by
Ariana Brown (Conroe) and
Gracie Campbell (Klein Oak) helped the Lions pull even at 7-7. SFA later led 12-9 before Campbell and Brown fueled a four-point Lions stretch, with Brown's consecutive kills putting the Lions ahead 13-12. The teams traded points through a 17-17 tie before SFA scored three straight to take a 20-17 lead. The Lions got within 24-22 on Brown's kill, but Katherine Holtman answered with the final kill as SFA took the set 25-22.
SFA moved ahead 7-4 early in the second set, but the Lions answered with kills from Campbell and
Sediong Scott (Houston – Elsik) and a Scott block to go in front 9-8. After SFA later led 12-11, the Lions took the next four points, with
Sabine Wenzel (Melrose, Mass.) recording a block and a kill around a Campbell kill for a 15-12 lead. The Lions pushed the margin to 22-17 on an SFA setting error after earlier kills from Campbell,
Haley Mullaney (Decatur) and Brown. SFA cut the deficit to 24-21, then scored the final five points, tying the set at 24-24 and closing it on Molly Cravens' kill for a 26-24 win.
Campbell had three early kills, including one that tied the third set at 3-3, but SFA moved in front 7-3 behind back-to-back service aces. The Lions cut the margin to 7-6 on kills by Brown and Scott, then later moved ahead 12-11 after a Campbell kill, an
Allie Ihloff (Tulsa, Okla.) ace and an SFA attack error. SFA answered to go back in front 16-13, and Brown's kill brought the Lions within 16-15 before SFA scored six of the next seven points to build a 22-16 lead. Brown added another kill to stop that stretch, but SFA reached set point at 24-17 and closed the set 25-18 on a Jordan Henderson kill.
Campbell totaled 15 kills while hitting .394 and added seven digs. Her .394 hitting percentage was a season high, and Campbell has recorded at least 15 kills in three consecutive matches. Brown finished with 14 kills, exceeding her season average of 12.9, along with 15.0 points and two blocks.
Jade Washington (Waco – Midway) collected a team-high 16 digs and added five assists. Washington has recorded at least 16 digs in three consecutive matches.
Katelyn Pritchard (McAllen) led the Lions with 18 assists. Wenzel totaled four blocks, exceeding her season average of 3.43. Wenzel has recorded at least two solo blocks in two consecutive matches and at least four total blocks in three consecutive matches.
Scott has recorded at least four total blocks in two consecutive matches. ET hit .242 in the match, exceeding its season average of .230, and has recorded at least eight total blocks in three consecutive matches.
The Lions fall to 9-13 overall and 3-6 in Southland play, while SFA is 13-9 overall and 7-2 in Southland play.
UP NEXT
The Lions visit Lamar on Saturday at 11 a.m.
-ETAMU-
