HOUSTON, Texas – HCU got past a fiesty Texas A&M-Commerce in Sharp Gym on Thursday night, winning in straight sets 28-26, 25-16, 27-25, giving the Huskies their fifth sweep in eight home matches this season.
A four-point run capped by an
Audrey Pearce kill helped HCU jump out to an early 8-3 lead in the opening set. The Lions would close to within three at 12-9 before the Huskies tallied five of the next seven to push the advantage back to six. With the Huskies leading 22-15, Commerce would go on a 7-1 spurt to close within one, 23-22. The Huskies would get to set point off a kill by
Anna Gadway, but the Lions would not go away, pushing the match into extras before a
Sara Arroyo put-away finished the visitors off and gave HCU game one, 28-26.
Gadway would punch home two quick kills and
Cassidy Drapela put down two more as HCU opened the second game with a 7-1 run. The lead would grow to 13-3 after a couple of aces from
Tatiana Evans, and the Lions would get no closer than six the rest of the way.
In the third set, the Lions continued to battle, breaking a 12-all tie with four straight to go up 16-12. The Huskies tied the game at 20-20, but Commerce would go on the verge of taking game three, pushing out to a 24-22 lead. A well-placed free ball by
Kaley Feris found an open spot in the Commerce defense, tying things up at 25. Moments later, Pearce hammered home the game and match ender for a 28-26 win and 3-0 sweep.
Pearce tied her season high with 16 kills while adding four blocks to pace the Huskies, now 11-9 overall and 6-2 in the Southland.
Grace McLaughlin dished out 36 assists and also tied her season high with four blocks. Feris led the Huskies defensively with 16 digs.
Texas A&M-Commerce was led by Kitana Tuufuli with 10 kills. Breann Connally dished out 22 assists and Jade Smith led the Lion's back line with 19 digs.
The Huskies will return to action on Saturday as they hit the midway point of the conference schedule in a Saturday matinee matchup against McNeese at the Legacy Center in Lake Charles.
First serve is scheduled for 1 pm, and the game will be available via Live Stats.
