Commerce, Texas – The Southern Arkansas Volleyball team fell to Texas Woman's, 23-25, 13-25, 25-23, 12-25, in its final match of the A&M-Commerce Tournament at Lion Fieldhouse on Saturday evening.
 
In a tight first set that featured eight ties, SAU held a 22-20 advantage after trailing 1-5 early. Unfortunately, Texas Woman's would score five of the next six points to steal the first set. Senior Amanda Monge and junior Shelby Lauterbach powered three kills apiece.
 
The Pioneers took that momentum into the second set, limiting SAU to a .000 (7-36-7) attacking percentage and converting on 85 percent (12-14) of sideouts to take the second set 25-13.
 
SAU trailed 7-10 in the third set before going on a 7-1 run to take a 14-11 lead. Texas Woman's would score the next five before SAU exploded on a 7-0 run to secure a 21-16 advantage. With a 24-23 Lady Mulerider lead, the Pioneers hit a shot that traveled just beyond the backline to give the set to SAU.
 
Monge finished the set with five kills, and Lauterbach and sophomore Hailey McNee fired four kills of their own. The Lady Muleriders limited the Pioneers to .080 (12-50-8) hitting in the set.
 
Down 4-15 in the fourth set, Monge fell awkwardly at the net and had to be taken out of the game. Texas Woman's would go on to seal the game, limiting the Lady Muleriders to just six kills and seven errors and winning the set 25-12.
 
McNee finished with a team-high 11 kills and Monge added 10 before exiting the game with her injury. McNee and Monge also had five blocks apiece to push the Lady Muleriders defensive force, which forced 10 blocks total.
 
The Lady Muleriders return to the court Thursday in a key Great American Conference match versus Harding at Rhodes Field House in Searcy, Ark. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT.