COMMERCE, Texas – HCU cruised through the first two sets, but Texas A&M-Commerce rallied to force a fifth, where the Huskies edged the Lions, 3-2 (25-21, 25-16, 18-25, 23-25, 15-12), in the Field House to clinch at least a share of the Southland Conference regular-season title. McNeese lost at home to Southeastern, allowing HCU to move into sole possession of first place with one match remaining.
 
Five Huskies posted double figure kills, led by junior right side Anna Gadway, who had 14. Senior middle blocker Jada Allen and sophomore middle blocker Audrey Pearce each had 13 kills, with Allen adding four blocks and Pearce eight digs and a pair of blocks for HCU (21-9, 13-4 SLC). Redshirt freshman outside hitter Shelby O'Neal recorded a double-double with 11 kills and 11 digs and junior outside hitter Sara Arroyo had 10 kills and six digs. Redshirt freshman setter Grace McLaughlin had 54 assists, 18 digs and four kills. Junior libero Kaley Feris led the Huskies with 30 digs and four aces, sophomore defensive specialist Alexia Jones had 14 digs and freshman defensive specialist Hazel Allen had nine.
 
Essence Allen had 17 kills and 13 digs for TAMU-C (10-21, 6-11). Maddy Rashford added 15 kills, five digs and four blocks and Reese Fetty had 12 kills and seven digs. Taryn Cast had seven kills and seven blocks. Celeste Vela had 49 assists and Lyric Hebert had 30 digs.
 
HCU hit .190 for the match, with TAMU-C hitting .186. The Huskies edged the Lions in digs, 108-106, but were outblocked, 11-7.
 
TAMU-C scored the first three points of the fifth and led by as many as four at 9-5. HCU answered with six-straight points, which included two kills by Pearce and a pair of aces by Feris, to lead 11-9. The Huskies clinged to a one-point lead at 13-12, but a Lion attack error put them at set point, then O'Neal and Pearce teamed up for block to seal the victory.
 
The Huskies, which tied for their most wins in head coach Trent Herman's 12 seasons, travel to face New Orleans with the outright conference championship on the line Saturday at noon in Lakefront Arena. Southeastern (vs. UIW), McNeese (vs. Lamar) and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (at Nicholls) are each tied for second at 12-5.