COMMERCE, Texas – Shannon Dulaney led the Aggies with 23 kills but it wasn’t enough as Cameron (8-18, 3-12) was swept 3-0 (20-25, 24-26, 23-25) for the second match in a row by Texas A&M-Commerce (18-7, 9-6).
Box Score
“We got out-gunned tonight,” said head coach Doug Tabbert. “It was one of our best nights of the season offensively but we couldn’t stop them up the middle throughout the match.”
“We got shaken up to end the second set and we responded back strong in the third opening up with a 5-0 lead but it’s tough when we can’t get in there to stop them at the net.”
In set one, both teams traded points until the 10-9 mark when the Lions went small 5-1 run to pull ahead of the Aggies 15-10. Cameron got within two points late in the set trailing 22-20 but Texas A&M Commerce would take the next three points to win, 25-20. Despite both teams having two errors each, the Aggies hit .283 compared to .415 by the Lions.
The second set played out every similarly with both teams again exchanging points and nether team taking a lead larger than two points. A&M-C took a late 24-23 lead forcing Cameron to use a timeout. Kathryn Evans tied the set at 24 after her ninth kill of the match but the Lions would score off of a Morgan Moeller kill and an Evans error to win set two 26-24.
Following the intermission, Cameron got off to a quick 5-0 lead after five straight kills from Dulaney to start the set. The early lead by Cameron was slowly trimmed down by A&M-C and they would tie the set at 16.
After a 19-19 tie, Cameron would be forced to use their first timeout following a Lion kill and an Aggie attack error giving A&M-C a 21-19 lead. The Aggies would get a point back after a Lion service error but they would return with two kills in a row forcing Tabbert to spend CU’s final time out trailing 23-21.
Texas A&M-Commerce would get another point before Cameron made things interesting taking the next two points, trailing 24-23, and making A&M-C use a timeout. However, following the break the Lions would get the set point winning 25-23 and taking the match.
Despite hitting a season best .266 the Aggies were outdone by the Lions who hit .346.
As a team Cameron came up with 49 kills and 47 assists compared to 54 kills and 53 assists by A&M-C. Another difference was the four service aces by the Lions compared to one by the Aggies.
Dulaney finished the match with only one error and a career best .431 attack.
“Shannon was outstanding and she elevated her game in recent weeks,” Tabbert said. “She was able to take advantage of some opportunities tonight and played a really clean match.”
Evans finished the match with 11 kills and Annelise Carpenter came up with eight. Jenna Risoli had 43 assists and Julisa Ocasio had 18 digs.
Cameron will travel Oct. 26 to Denton, Texas for a match against Texas Woman’s at 2 p.m.
