SAN ANTONIO — The East Texas A&M University volleyball team faced tough competition in the Roadrunner Classic on Friday, losing two matches at the UTSA Convocation Center. The Lions fell to IU Indy 3-1 (23-25, 25-17, 22-25, 27-29) and to UTSA 3-0 (18-25, 22-25, 19-25).
Against IU Indy, the Lions hit an impressive .373, achieving a season-high hitting percentage, and totaled 10 blocks. However, they were outmatched in kills, with IU Indy holding a 68-51 advantage.
The match started with both teams exchanging points until IU Indy took a lead at 6-3. The Lions fought back to tie the score at 21-21, but IU Indy secured the first set 25-23. In the second set, the Lions surged ahead, building a significant lead thanks to contributions from
Ariana Brown (Conroe) and
Gracie Campbell (Klein Oak), ultimately winning 25-17. The third set saw the Lions trailing but they managed to keep it close, yet IU Indy took the set 25-22. The fourth set was a nail-biter, with the Lions leading at 22-18, but IU Indy rallied to win the set 29-27 and clinch the match.
Brown led the Lions with 16 points, recording 13 kills without an error and adding four block assists. Campbell also shined with 13 kills, while
Sediong Scott (Elsik) posted 11 kills on a .444 hitting percentage and contributed five blocks.
Haley Mullaney (Decatur) directed the offense with 21 assists and added nine digs. The Lions' record now stands at 5-2 overall.
In their subsequent match against UTSA, the Lions struggled offensively, hitting .170 with 31 kills compared to UTSA's .308 and 51 kills.
UTSA opened the first set with a strong six-point serve from Valeria Ortiz, quickly taking control of the game. The Lions made a push to close the gap but ultimately lost the set 25-18. In the second set, the Lions started off strong, led by Brown's four kills, but could not maintain the lead as UTSA came back to win the set 25-22. The third set saw the Lions take an early lead, but UTSA responded decisively, closing out the match with a 25-19 win.
Brown was the standout for the Lions again, leading with 14 kills and hitting .324, along with seven digs. Campbell added nine kills, while Scott recorded six total blocks.
Jade Washington (Waco - Midway) led the defense with a team-high 11 digs. The Lions totaled nine blocks during the match, exceeding their season average. The Lions are now 5-3 overall following the two losses.
UP NEXT
The Lions face Gonzaga at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday to close out the trip down to San Antonio.
-ETAMU-
