COMMERCE, Texas – A total of three double-digit kill performances was not enough for the Midwestern State volleyball team Friday evening as the squad dropped a 3-1 decision (26-24, 24-26, 25-18, 25-17) to Texas A&M-Commerce at The Field House.

Senior outside hitter Hunter Porter and freshman middle blocker Olivia Schiffner paced Midwestern State (6-22, 0-13 LSC) with 11 kills apiece as Schiffner posted a career-best .409 hitting percentage with just two errors on 22 swings. Sophomore outside hitter Meghan Bettis also reached double figures, finishing with 10 kills for her fourth-straight double-digit kill outing.

In the first set, the Mustangs overcame several three-point deficits throughout the frame before Texas A&M-Commerce (15-11 , 7-7 LSC) claimed a 15-11 lead following a kill by sophomore setter Courtney Tate.

After MSU called a timeout with the Lions holding on to a 20-15 advantage, the Mustangs reeled off a 7-0 spurt with freshman middle blocker Kiley Beaver registering three blocks and Porter adding two kills and a stuff to put Midwestern up 22-20 to force an A&M-C timeout. After a Beaver kill gave MSU set point at 24-23, the Lions were able to record the final three points to rally for a 26-24 win.

Midwestern answered with a 26-24 second set win, hitting .342 with just one error in the frame. The Lions were able to jump out early in the set once again, claiming a 6-2 lead to force an MSU timeout. A&M-C seemed to be in control and headed towards a 2-0 lead with a 15-8 advantage, but a 5-0 run by the Mustangs pulled the visitors within two points at 19-17.

With the Lions holding a 23-21 lead, the MSU block brought the Mustangs back in contention before going in front at 24-23 following a ball handling error by A&M-C. MSU broke a 24-24 tie with a Bettis kill and a Lions attack error to even the match at 1-1.

A&M-C pulled away early from the Mustangs out of the break with a 9-3 lead. The Lions finished with a .387 attack percentage as the home team cruised to a 25-18 victory to move ahead 2-1.

It was another strong performance by the Lions in the final set as MSU was held to a .025 hitting percentage. A kill by Schiffner brought the Mustangs within two after falling behind by as many as six points. However, A&M-C ended the set on a 6-0 run to post a 25-17 win and take the match 3-1.

Freshman setter Kendall Chamberlain finished with a career-high 35 assists while adding a career-best 12 digs for her second double-double of the season. On the defensive end, junior libero Madelyn Johnson recorded a team-high 17 digs.

Junior outside hitter Veronica Baric led the Lions with 19 kills on a .319 clip while adding 13 digs for the double-double. Tate also posted a double-double with 49 assists and a team-high 20 digs.

Midwestern State faces Texas Woman's in its final road match of the season tomorrow at 2 p.m. at the Kitty Magee Arena in Denton.