WICHITA FALLS, Texas -- Midwestern State gave No. 20 Texas A&M-Commerce all they bargained for on Friday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. The Mustangs took the opening set from the Lions, and nearly grabbed a second set before falling 3-1 (25-22, 18-25, 24-26, 20-25).

"I am extremely proud of this team," coach Valerie Armstrong said. "Commerce is ranked No. 20. They beat the No. 1 team in the country in Tampa a couple of weeks ago. We knew it was going to be a fight."
 
MSU Texas blitzed the 20th ranked team in the country in the first set, building a 16-11 lead after a Rockelle Gholson kill. Gholson finished with 15 kills and 19 digs to notch her fourth double-double of the season. After the Lions scored the next five points to even the set at 16-16, MSU rattled off three straight points and never looked back, winning the opening set, 25-22.

Texas A&M-Commerce evened the match at one with a 25-18 performance in the second set. The Lions used two separate four-point outbursts to grab control. 

The third set proved to be the difference maker. Down 18-9, the Mustangs went on a 7-0 scoring run to cut the deficit to two. Later in the match, now trailing 22-20, MSU rattled off four straight points to get within match point. But Texas A&M-Commerce fought back, scoring the last four points of the set to escape with a 26-24 win.

"It was there. We had match point. Now we just have to execute the offense," added Coach Armstrong.
 
In the fourth set, MSU held an early 3-2 lead that was quickly erased by a 5-0 Lions scoring run. The Maroon and Gold responded with a mini 3-0 run, highlighted by a Sarah Eakin kill. The Wichita Falls native hammered home 10 kills and led all players with a .529 kill rate. 

MATCH NOTES
- MSU drops to 2-9 (0-3) while No. 20 Texas A&M-Commerce improves to 8-3 (3-0)
- Midwestern hit .163 as a team
- The Lions hit .223 
 
UP NEXT
The Mustangs host UT Tyler tomorrow afternoon at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. Match time is 2 p.m.