Box Score (PDF)

THE RUNDOWN
WICHITA FALLS, Texas – Double-doubles for Meghan Bettis, Aerielle Edwards and Sarah Garfield paced Midwestern State to a thrilling 3-2 victory over Texas A&M-Commerce Tuesday evening at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
 
In the opening set, Edwards led the Mustangs with five kills as Midwestern State (10-12, 4-7 LSC) used four service aces to help build a 16-7 lead to begin the match. Texas A&M-Commerce (12-10, 6-5 LSC) quickly closed the gap following a 9-2 run to pull within two points after a kill from Jaslyn Wacker. The Lions pulled ahead for their first lead since 1-0 at 21-20 after a Neka Nelson kill to force an MSU timeout. With A&M-Commerce holding a 23-21 advantage, the Mustangs reeled off four-straight points, capped off by an Edwards kill and a Christy Carruth ace for a 25-23 victory.
 
The Mustangs hit .273 in the second frame, led by Garfield's five kills, as Midwestern overcame an early three-point deficit before grabbing an 18-15 advantage. The Lions pulled as close as a point down the stretch but a kill by Kiley Beaver helped MSU stretch its lead before taking a 25-21 win in set two.
 
Despite eight kills from Bettis in the third frame, the Mustangs were held to a .083 hitting percentage as the Lions prevented the sweep with a 25-17 win. A&M-Commerce broke a 5-5 tie with an 8-0 spurt to build a commanding lead before taking the set.
 
A&M-Commerce put down 20 kills with two errors while Midwestern totaled 16 kills and just one hitting error in the fourth set. The Mustangs jumped out to a 10-5 lead following an Edwards kill, but the Lions answered right back to even the set following a Wacker kill. The Lions opened up a four-point advantage late in the frame at 20-16 before kills for Edwards, Beaver and Garfield evened the set at 22 apiece. However, following an A&M-Commerce timeout, the Lions recorded the final three points to force a decisive fifth set with a 25-22 win.
 
The Mustangs opened up a 7-4 lead in the fifth set after back-to-back attack errors by the Lions. A block for Wacker and Payton McMillan evened the game at 7-all before the Mustangs mounted a 5-0 run to force an A&M-Commerce timeout. The Lions came within three but an Edwards kill helped spark a late 3-0 run capped off by an ace for Kristan Aduddell to take the match with a 15-9 victory.

NOTES
*Meghan Bettis paced the Mustangs with 17 kills on a .298 hitting percentage while adding 12 digs for her seventh double-double of the season
*Aerielle Edwards added 16 kills and 12 digs for her third double-double of the year
*Sarah Garfield finished with 11 kills and a career-best 15 digs to lead the Mustangs with her seventh double-double
*Christy Carruth matched a career-high three service aces and 14 digs
*Kristan Aduddell reached the 50-assist plateau for the fourth time this season with 51 assists to lead the MSU offense
*Kiley Beaver finished with a team-high .368 hitting percentage with seven kills and no hitting errors
*Addison Semer also posted a strong performance for the Mustangs with nine kills and a .318 hitting clip
*Midwestern State hit .213 for the match while holding A&M-Commerce to a .172 percentage

STAT OF THE GAME
3 – Midwestern State totaled three players with double-doubles for the third time this season (at Texas Woman's, vs. West Texas A&M) 
 
UP NEXT
Midwestern State begins a two-match road swing Friday when the Mustangs travel to UT Permian Basin for a 7 p.m. contest at the Falcon Dome in Odessa.