Texas A&M University-Commerce used a balanced offensive attack to avenge an earlier loss to Tarleton State at the Field House. The Lions had five players with double digit digs, led by Michaela Spicer with 24. The offense featured five different players with 10 plus kills, led by Ezon Onditi with 15.
The Lions extended their winning streak heading into the final weekend of the regular season. A&M-Commerce is now firmly in the fourth spot of the Lone Star Conference standings, two games behind Texas Woman's University.
Onditi had 15 kills on 47 total attacks for a .191 hitting percentage. Amy Davault had another 10-plus-kill night with 13. Davault also added 20 digs for her 19th double-double of the season. Kayla Bond and Breanne Snyder recorded 12 kills each. Bond raised her hitting percentage with her .391 in the match. Ciara Holmes was also in double figures with 10 kills. Jordan Neal recorded another double-double with 53 assists and 20 digs for her fifth in her last 10 matches.
The teams traded the first 12 points to open the match. A&M-Commerce then took the lead off back-to-back kills from Davault to make it 11-7. The Lions maintained the lead before rattling off four straight to win the set 25-19.
After the second set was tied at five all, the Lions got three straight points to take an 8-5 lead off of two errors from the TexAnns. The Lions then extended the lead to 17-10 off another error from Tarleton State. Tarleton State then went on a five nothing run late to cut the lead to 24-23 in favor of A&M-Commerce before Snyder ended the second set with a kill.
The third set was back and forth throughout. The Lions were able to keep the TexAnns close in the middle stages but a strong finish gave the set to the visiting TexAnns.
In set four the Lions built a 15-10 to lead thanks four straight points including two aces from Snyder. Tarleton State would not go away and rallied to tie the set at 18 and 19 all. The Lions then won five straight to get to match point at 24-19. The TexAnns responded with four straight of their own to make the score 24-23. Onditi's 15th kill of the night was the clincher to get the Lions the set win and the three sets to one match win.
The Lions return to action on Friday when they face Eastern New Mexico University at 7 p.m. at The Field House. A&M-Commerce then hosts West Texas A&M on Saturday to close out the 2013 regular season.
A&M-Commerce 3, Tarleton State 1
The Field House • Commerce, Texas • Tuesday, Nov. 12
Records: A&M-Commerce (21-7, 8-6 LSC), Tarleton State (14-13, 7-8 LSC)
Up Next: vs. Eastern New Mexico – Friday Nov. 15 7 p.m. – The Field House
