FORT SMITH, Ark. – Texas A&M International volleyball opened the weekend with a road match against UAFS. TAMIU surged back to force a deciding fifth set after trailing 2-0, but it was the Lions (14-13, 9-7 LSC) topping the Dustdevils (4-19, 4-12 LSC), 3-2.
 
UAFS was the beneficiary of strong play early, taking the first set by a score of 25-17 and the second set, while closer, was 25-21 in favor of the Lions.
 
Trailing 2-0, things really clicked for TAMIU in sets three and four. The Dustdevils took momentum with a 25-17 set win in the third. TAMIU jumped ahead 6-2 early, and UAFS eventually to a 13-12 lead. From there, the Dustdevils rattled off a 13-4 run to close out the set.
 
TAMIU kept that momentum and cruised in set four. The Dustdevils were ahead just 7-5 early and from then on, cruised to a closing stretch of 18-8 to take the 25-13 set victory.
 
UAFS however found a way to swing momentum in the fifth set, taking a 6-2 lead early. TAMIU did cut the deficit over time to 11-10, but a 4-1 run closed the victory for the Lions, 15-11.
 
Senior Mackenzie Catalina broke yet another school record, as she finished the contest with 32 kills, the most in a single game by a Dustdevil in a five set match. She added a double-double with 12 digs and had an exceptional .389 hitting percentage.
 
Graduate transfer Ilina Spasova also hit double figures in kills with 14 while also having a double-double with 14 digs.
 
Senior Maison Kosse had another fantastic game with 50 assists, placing herself third all-time in program history for assists in a career.
Defensively, sophomore Daniela Sandoval led the team with 20 digs, along with the double digit digs by Spasova and Catalina, as well as Kosse who added 11 of her own.
 
TAMIU has one final match remaining and it takes place tomorrow at 2 p.m. from Oklahoma City, Okla. as the Dustdevils meet Oklahoma Christian in the finale.