COMMERCE, Texas – Despite a strong opening set in which the Lady Mustangs ripped off a .400 hitting percentage, Texas A&M-Commerce recovered to defeat the Western New Mexico University volleyball team 3-1 (25-17, 18-25, 15-25, 21-25) Friday night in Lone Star Conference action.

WNMU (16-11, 8-8 LSC) tallied 13 kills to just one error in 30 swings in the opening set and limited the Lions to just a .143 (14-8-42) percentage. Texas A&M-Commerce (17-11, 11-6 LSC) came back to hit .333 and .289 over the next two sets to eventually come back for the victory. The Lions tallied a big advantage on kills (62-39), service aces (8-0), assists (60-34) and digs (72-53). WNMU held the edge in blocks (10-8). Junior Heather Verrill (Barstow, CA/Barstow ) did all she could to keep the Lady Mustangs in it with 10 kills and hit .333. Juniors Morgan Lyneis (Victorville, CA/Apple Valley) and Kelli McGhiey (Pearl City, HI/Sacred Hearts Academy ) added seven kills apiece. Junior Ashley Mataele (Laie, HI/Kahuku) ended up with 22 digs and senior Shannon Rich (Folsom, CA/Folsom) sent back six blocks.

Verrill and Lyneis helped jump-start the offense in the first set with a pair of kills around two errors from the Lions to grab the 7-3 lead. The lead stretched to eight at 14-6 on a kill by junior Melanie Hughes (Riverside, CA/Martin Luther King Jr.). Texas A&M-Commerce reeled off the next four points to make things interesting pulling back to within four at 14-10. A service error and ball handling error pushed WNMU back in front by seven at 20-13 and the Lady Mustangs kept their foot on the gas with McGhiey tallying a kill and two more Lions errors moved them two points from the set at 23-14. McGhiey closed the set with two more kills for the 25-17 set win.

The Lions roared out to a 7-1 lead in the second set. WNMU fought back to within four a couple of times, with the last coming on a service error at 14-10. Texas A&M-Commerce kept the lead at least at five points the rest of the set for the 25-18 win to even the match at one.

Out of the break, the Lions kept the momentum and were in front 7-0 right away. An attack error ignited a 5-0 run for the Lady Mustangs with McGhiey, Rich and freshman Cristal Carrizoza (Phoenix, AZ/North) all contributing points to cut the deficit back to eight at 17-9. WNMU was never able to really find traction in the set following the big early deficit with the Lions running away with the third set at 25-15 to take the 2-1 match lead.

Quick starts followed Texas A&M-Commerce every set but the first as they were fast in front at 4-0 to start the fourth. Just when it looked like WNMU was out of the set trailing by eight at 20-12, a service error sparked a 5-0 run. McGhiey, Rich tallied a block and then two straight blocks from Rich and junior Samantha Haupeakui (San Mateo, CA/Aragon), along with another attack error left the lead at just three, 21-18. McGhiey and Rich combined for another block and then an attack error had WNMU all-of-a-sudden to within two at 22-20. The Lions regrouped with a kill and service ace to move to match point. McGhiey prolonged the set one more point with a solo block before Jaryn Wacker drilled a kill to propel Texas A&M-Commerce to the 25-21 set win and 3-1 match victory.

Outside of the top offensive and defensive numbers for the Lady Mustangs, Hughes and Carrizoza each added 12 assists.

Three Lions reached double-figures in kills led by Layne Little's 14. Ashley Mireles tallied 21 digs and both Sydney Reyes and Jaslyn Wacker sent back four blocks apiece.

WNMU will head to Denton to face Texas Woman's on Saturday afternoon starting at 2 p.m. (Central Time).