Junior setter Haley Baker, left, completed a match high of 26 assists and had nine digs during the Lady Lion’s match against Abilene Christian University.   
File Photo/The Lion’s Roar

The Lady Lions volleyball team has lost two more games in the Southland Conference, making them 2-15 overall and 0-4 in conference. 

The first game last week was held on Sept. 28 in Texas where the Lady Lions took on Abilene Christian University. The Lady Lions lost all three sets against Abilene Christian with the scores being 25-19, 25-22 and 25-13. 

Redshirt sophomore Elyssa Purcell led the team with eight kills while sophomore Savannah Alcazar had the highest match record of 22 attacks. Junior setter Haley Baker also had a match high of 26 assists.

The Lady Lions also took on Sam Houston State on Sept. 30 where the Lady Lions lost all three sets with the scores of 25-7, 25-20 and 25-18. 

Purcell once again led the team with eight kills and also had a .174 attack percentage, which is a team high for the university. Freshman setter Michelle Mirarchi held a match high of 14 digs and 16 assists, turning in the first double-double performance of her career. Mirarchi’s record of 14 digs at Sam Houston has set a career high, topping her previous record of 13 digs at Alabama State.

Head Coach Jim Smoot believes that there was no momentum against Sam Houston.

“I don’t think we ever had any momentum,” said Smoot. “We lost the first set 25-7, so I think that’s a pretty good indicator of how we approached that match.” 

Smoot also thinks that in order to improve, the team must believe they can compete at this level because the players have the ability and the power to do so. 

“We’ve tried a lot of different lineups, so I don’t think that’s the answer,” said Smoot. “I think it goes back to my previous statement that we definitely can be very successful tomorrow night if all of us go in with a very positive attitude and be aggressive in our play.”

As of now, the Lady Lions have lost five games in a row. However, when it comes to the rest of the season, Smoot thinks the Lady Lions have a shot at winning.

“I just know that we can turn it around,” said Smoot. “That’s all I can say.”

The Lady Lions will be heading to Lafayette on Oct. 3 to play a non-conference match against University of Louisiana at Lafayette at 6:30 p.m. and will return home to play Houston Baptist on Oct. 5.