When the Lions volleyball team faced the West Texas A&M Lady Buffs, there was a different feeling in the air. That feeling was the feeling that is Homecoming. The homecoming court was revealed during the volleyball game due to the rain that hit Commerce the day before. Contrary to the fun festivities the Lions felt the need to please the crowd and give them a win and they did just that.

The Lions came out firing on all cylinders, controlling the tempo of the first set early on. Despite having seven attack errors to the Lady Buffs’ three, the Lions excelled on both ends of the court. Taryn Driver and Veronika Baric paced the offense with five kills each giving the Lions a serious edge. On the defensive side Jaslyn Wacker and Sydney Reyes contributed three blocks total and three kills each. The Lions went on to win the first set 25-19 dominating majority of the match.

The second set was the closer of the three sets but doesn’t indicate the offensive aggression that the Lions showed in the match. Baric and Summer Alford tallied up seven and six kills serving as a two-headed monster on the offensive end. The Lions lead the entire set but it did get close when the score was 24-23 but the Lions finished the set with a 25-23 win.

In the third set, the Lions had another successful offensive drive, jumping to an early 18-9 lead. The momentum quickly shifted due to a rally by the Lady Buffs who brought the lead to within five (19-14), but the Lions had other plans.

Following a kill by Courtney Tate, an ace by Ashley Mireles, and another kill by Baric, the Lions reclaimed the momentum that they needed to hold on for a 25-18 win.