Sept. 12, 2005

COMMERCE - The Lions are rounding out the first stretch of the season on the road in Southern Arkansas. The Lions stand at 5-7 on the season, a marked improvement over last season's start and further evidence that the squad rededicated itself in the off-season.

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The Muleriders come into the match at 6-6 after the first third of the season and after slipping a match to Tarleton State and defeating Texas Woman's this weekend. Both matches were decided in the fifth game.

Facing three tough regional opponents this weekend, A&M-Commerce dropped each of its three matches in sweeps. The Lions did open the week and their home court for the first time this season with a win over Henderson State, a 3-2 final. The Lions secured their fifth win against four losses and the first time the Lions had a greater than .500 record since the opening match of the season. Tosha Spain hit two crucial kills in that fifth game to retake the lead and secure the win.

Transfers Jane Latu and Alicia Capparelli have each certainly shown their value since joining the Lions. Latu leads the team in kills with better than 3.2 per game, striking successfully on 19.8 percent of her attacks.

Sophomore Colleen Favaro has continued to progress off an award-winning season when she wa a second-team all-Lone Star Conference pick. She has 2.74 kills per game 23.6 percent attack rate, a team best.

Taking over the setting responsibilities, Capparelli is averaging 8.78 assists per game. Freshman Brittany Williams hasn't shied away from taking 317 attacks to be ranked third on the team in kills at 93. Williams is tied for eight in the conference for services aces with 18.

With a new defensive rotation in the works this season, Jackie Orr has made the transition from setter to libero to be ranked in the top 15 in the conference for digs. She's averaging 3.9 digs per game.

THE MULERIDERS

Southern Arkansas is 3-1 at home this season in large part due to an explosive series of attackers. Four average at least 2.7 kills per game, while the team as whole rakes in a 21.7 percent attack percentage. They are led by Jessie Mailhes' 3.6 kills per game and Brandi Beeson's 3.58. They have combined for over 300 kills. Shelly Jones and Kristina Daily have both gone for over 115 kills through 12 matches.

Opponents have a fractionally better edge in kills per game with 14.21 as well as on digs with 18.88.

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