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LUBBOCK, Texas – Entering play in the Heartland/Lone Star Conferences Crossover tournament, hosted by Lubbock Christian, on Friday, Texas A&M International boasted an inspiring 4-2 record in the first game of matches in 2013.
The Dustdevils are a combined 0-12 in games 2 and 3 this season, causing the team to face Texas A&M-Commerce with a 0-6 record. The trend continued against the Lions in the tip off match with a 3-1 (25-27, 25-22, 25-17, 25-12) defeat at the Rip Griffin Center.
The first game saw the Dustdevils and Lions see-saw in and out of the lead; it featured nine ties and six lead changes as it stretched beyond the regulation 25 points. TAMIU won by stretching its lead to a decisive two points when senior captain Miranda Pratt struck a pair of serves that led to an A&M-Commerce attack error and a game-winning block by TAMIU’s Toriana Goods and Paige Criss.
Over the next three games, the Dustdevils and Lions only teeter-totted back and forth with 12 total ties and only eight lead changes – all of them coming in games 2 and 3. The Lions dominated the final game, winning it with a wire-to-wire performance.
Pratt led all Dustdevils with 12 kills and 13 of the team’s 45 total points. She also boasted a team-high .450 hitting percentage and a team third-best 20 total attacks.
Goods had eight kills and a block, Criss had six kills and five blocks, and Samantha Gonzalez and Alex Ciszek contributed four kills apiece. Lizzie Prieto again led TAMIU by massive margins in assists, racking up 29 of the team’s 34 total assists. Desiree Ortiz and Goods dug out double-digit totals on defense, racking up 13 and 10 digs, respectively.
The Dustdevils will continue play at the Heartland/Lone Star Crossover with a pair of matches today, taking on Midwestern State at 9 a.m. and Texas A&M-Kingsville at 1 p.m.
They will return to TAMIU to open their home slate on Sept. 19 against Heartland foe St. Edward’s at 7 p.m.
