Texas A&M University-Commerce was pushed to a fifth set for the second time in three matches by Southeastern Oklahoma State University, and the Lions were up to the task again winning three sets to two.
The Lions came out slow and dropped set one before winning sets two and three. The Savage Storm won the fourth set 25-17. In the fifth and final set the Lions came out and took a 5-1 early lead and never looked back, winning the set 15-10.
Amy Davault and Ciara Holmes led the Lions with 13 kills each. Davault also added 13 digs to record her 15th double-double of the season. Breanne Snyder tallied 12 kills on the night along with 14 digs for her eighth double-double of 2013. Kayla Bond led the Lions in hitting with her .389 clip with nine kills on 18 attacks with two errors. Setter Jordan Neal registered 50 assists; marking the eighth time this season Neal has eclipsed that mark.
The first set saw the teams trade the first 20 points. Southeastern Oklahoma then scored the next seven of eight points, taking a 17-12 lead. A kill by Snyder stopped the run temporarily; but then the Storm scored another three straight to take a 20-13 advantage. An attack error by the Lions sealed the first set for the Savage Storm, 25-17.
In set number two the Lions seemed to erase any thought of how the first set transpired, getting out to a 8-2 lead. The Lions were able to stretch the lead to 16-6 off a block from Taryn Driver and Neal. Back-to-back errors from Southeastern Oklahoma gave the 25-14 set win to the Lions.
Set three was back and forth in the early points before the Lions scored five straight to take a 16-10 lead. The Savage Storm was unable to recover, never dropping the deficit under five. Snyder ended the set at 25-19 with a kill.
A&M-Commerce scored four of the first six points in set four. Southeastern tied the set at six then took the lead off a kill from Courtney Miller. The Storm pushed the lead to 13-8 before the Lions took a timeout. A&M-Commerce cut the lead to four at 15-11 but did not get any closer as Southeastern kept them at bay and won set four, 25-17.
Like in the fifth set versus Texas Woman's, the Lions used a fast start to put some distance between them and the Storm early. The Lions led 6-3 early, then an ace from Michaela Spicer made it 9-5 Lions and forced a Savage Storm timeout. A&M-Commerce held Southeastern at bay and scored the last three points to take the set, 15-10, and the match.
The Lions return to the court on Thursday, October 31 to face the Mustangs of Midwestern State as part of Homecoming Week 2013. First serve is set for 7 p.m. at The Field House.
