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Lions to face WT in volleyball semis

lionathletics.com

The Texas A&M University-Commerce volleyball team has advanced to the second round of the Lone Star Conference volleyball tournament, following the Lions' defeat of Eastern New Mexico on Thursday night.

Some game notes from the A&M-Commerce Athletics Department:

FIRST SERVE
The Lions and Lady Buffs will meet for the third time this season in the LSC Semifinals with a berth in the the championship match on the line. The Lions beat the TexAnns in the quarterfinals on Thursday night in four sets. 

SERIES SCORE
The Lions are 12-35 all-time versus the Lady Buffs. West Texas has won eight in a row in the series including three-set sweeps in the two meetings this season.

SCOUTING THE LADY BUFFS
The Lady Buffs made quick work of the Zias in the quarterfinals on Thursday, sweeping the Zias in just over an hour. The Lady Buffs sport a balanced attack with two players over 300 kills (Halie Harton and Lauren Bevan). Two different Lady Buffs hit over .300 on the season (Lexi Davis, Laura Iwuchukwu).

LAST TIME OUT
The Lions used a balanced offensive attack and made some key plays at pivotal points in their 3-1 win over Tarleton State in the quarterfinals on Thursday night. The Lions got double digit kills from Breanne SnyderAmy DavaultCiara Holmes and Ezon OnditiJordan Neal was one dig short of a double-double with 60 assits and nine digs.

SECOND MOST HELPERS
Senior setter, Jordan Neal has now recorded the second most assists in a single season with 1,341. She past Kristi Phillips with her 29 assists versus West Texas A&M. Neal is 203 from the all-time single season record.
 
RUNNING AWAY WITH A NEW RECORD
Earlier this season Neal became the Lions all-time leader in assists, breaking Melissa Staiger's record of 3,843. After that mark was reached Neal then became the first Lion to 4,000 assists in a career. Now Neal is trying to make sure her record stands for a long time. Heading into the postseason Neal has 1,341 this season and 4,386 in her career, which is third among active Division II players in assists.
 
DOUBLE-DOUBLE WITH A FEW MORE ZEROS
Adding to her list of accomplishments, Neal is also the fifth player in Lion history with over 1,000 in at least two major categories. Toni Skipalis has over 1,000 in three categories (assists, digs, kills), Amy Maddox, Melanie Rea and Sara Wedburg all over 1,000 in kills and digs.
 
ACE!
Neal is also fourth on the all-time service aces list with 132 in her career.
 
NOT TODAY
Fellow senior, Kayla Bond is making her mark on the Lion record books. Bond is tied for sixth on the Total Blocks all-time list with Christy Edmond with 298 in a career.
 
NO WASTED EFFORT
Bond has also been efficient on the offense for the Lions. Her .320 hitting percentage is the eighth best mark in program history for a single season. 
 
IMPACT NEWCOMER
Amy Davault has had a very good first season for the Lions after transferring from UT-Arlington. Davault leads the team in kills (392) and kills per set (3.41). Davault is also second on the team in digs with 397. Freshman, Li'I Etimani is also having an impact in her first season on campus. Etimani is fifth on the team in digs (179) and has recorded 13 aces this season.
 
TEAM EFFORT
The Lions are the second best hitting team in the LSC, only behind West Texas A&M, with their .215 percentage. A&M-Commerce leads the LSC in total aces (163) and aces per set (1.42). The Lions also lead the LSC in kills per set as a team with (13.88).
 
LIONS AMONG LSC LEADERS
Neal leads the LSC in assists (1,341) and assists per set (11.66). Davault is third in kills per set (3.41). Bond is fourth in hitting percentage (.320). Breanne Snyder is second in service aces per set (.37).