THE RUNDOWN
Texas A&M-Commerce won their home opener against DBU tonight with a score of 3-1. The Lady Patriots lost the first two sets of the match, won a tough third set, but couldn't make a comeback and lost the fourth set. It was a game where the Lady Patriots were playing from behind for a majority of the game. The three sets they lost all started with them going down early and having to chip away at a lead, but they were just unable to do that tonight. 

In the first set, the Lady Patriots couldn't find a good rhythm early and the Lady Lions took advantage by jumping out to an 8-1 lead. The Lady Patriots kept things close and were down 15-17 late in the set. Unfortunately, they could never get over the hump and take the lead and ended up losing the first set 25-21. The Lady Lions started out strong in the second set, as well, and took a 10-1 lead. This time the Lady Patriots couldn't keep things as close, as the Lady Lions did well to stay on the attack and they went on to win the set 25-14.

DBU started to show some life in the third set. This time they did a good job of not letting the Lady Lions take a big lead in the beginning. No team was able to get out to a big lead at all. This set remained tight throughout. In fact, the largest lead of the set was when DBU took a three point lead. Late in the set, the score was tied 20-20, then the Lady Patriots were able to score three points in a row which gave them a big enough lead to carry them to a 25-22 set victory. But it seemed that the Lady Patriots used all their energy in winning the third set and allowed the Lady Lions to take an early lead in the fourth set. A&M-Commerce scored the set's first five points and eventually got the lead up to 8-2. The Lady Patriots would respond this time and were able to tie the game up at 13-13. From there no team could take a big lead and run away with it. DBU had a chance to win the set at 25-24, but the Lady Lions got their second wind and scored three straight points to take the set away and win the game.

THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

• The Lady Lions were able to take a sizable lead in the three sets they won. DBU has struggled playing from behind in the past, as well as, tonight.
• DBU did win the third set in a back and forth match, but it seemed they burned a lot of energy there, and let A&M-Commerce jump to a quick lead to start the fourth set.
• The offense couldn't seem to gain much traction tonight. Only one player reached double-digit kills, while A&M-Commerce saw four players reach at least ten kills.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
30- Texas A&M-Commerce finished with 30 more kills than the Lady Patriots tonight. 
13- DBU did finished with 13 blocks tonight. They continue to end games with more blocks and succeed on that side of the court.
1- Madeline Dolberry was the one DBU player who finished the game with double-digit kills with 10.

UP NEXT
The Lady Patriots will look to bounce back with their home opener this Thursday at 6:00 p.m. against Tarleton State. This game marks the first of six straight home games for DBU.