Lions Split in Day One of Comfort Innvitational

Texas A&M University-Commerce split a pair of matches on the first day of the Comfort Innvitational, dropping a 19-25, 25-17, 25-19, 25-17 decision to Minnesota State-Moorhead and bouncing back to win 25-18, 25-18, 25-21 over Quincy in Maryville, Missouri.

Against Minnesota State-Moorhead, freshman Morgan Moeller had one of the best matches of her young career with seven kills and senior Alyssa Oberle paced an A&M-Commerce attack with a team-best eight kills.

The Lions (3-2) started the day with a first set victory as they raced out to a 10-1 advantage. A&M-Commerce had two service aces and out hit the MSU-Moorhead by a .161 to .148 margin. Both teams hit well in the second set as the Lions hit .231 and 10 kills on four errors; however, the Dragons hit at .343 on 17 kills and five errors.

In the third set, the teams were tied at 17 until the Minnesota State-Moorhead capitalized on a four attack errors and a service error en route to a 25-19 victory. The Eagles clinched the match with a 25-17 win in the fourth set. The Lions raced out to a 5-1 lead until the visitors scored 10 of the next 14 points to take an 11-9 lead. Minnesota State-Moorhead would lead for the remainder of the set. A&M-Commerce managed to get within two, 14-12, until three-consecutive kills by the Eagles led the visitors to the victory.

A&M-Commerce took its second match of the day with a straight-set, 25-18, 25-18, 25-21 win over Quincy. The Lions hit at a .240 clip and held Quincy to just .125 and the Lions recorded a season-high nine service aces.

Addison led an A&M-Commerce attack with seven kills and newcomers Rachel Robertson and Moeller added five and four kills, respectively. Senior setter Perla Faudoa (pictured) had 32 assists and three service aces in the win. Moeller also had three service aces, plus senior Lauren Flynn and freshman Ashleigh Barnett added 13 and 11 digs, respectively.

The Lions wrap up the two-day tournament with a 10 a.m. match against Newman and 2:30 pm contest against host Northwest Missouri State.