PORTALES, N.M. – The Eastern New Mexico University volleyball team overcame a first-set deficit to rally and defeat Texas A&M-Commerce, 3-1 (12-25, 25-18, 25-20, 29-27), on Friday evening at Greyhound Arena in front of 233 rowdy fans. The win improves the Greyhounds' record to 9-8 on the year and 5-4 in Lone Star Conference play.
 
Senior Lauren Frye led the offense with 15 kills while Jennifer Martinez led an efficient assault with a .312 attack percentage. Andrea Aguilar recorded 23 digs in the match with the Lions and senior Talaitupu Faumui threw a block party of her own with a pair of solo blocks. Alexis Aguirre and Kaitlyn Kluna set the table for the offense, dishing out 19 assists from the setter position.
 
Eastern sputtered out of the gates, hitting -.079 in the first set against Commerce. The Greyhounds picked up just eight kills on 11 errors to fall behind, but the Green and Silver picked up steam in the second set, en-route to a 1-1 tie going into the intermission. Sarah Tuioti-Mariner led the offense in the second frame, picking up four kills on five attempts.
 
Late in the third set, the match was tied at 20-all before a 5-0 run from the Greyhounds gave Eastern its first lead of the night. Courtney Lawson served out the final four points as the Lions committed three errors.
 
The final set alone produced 13 ties and six lead changes, resulting in a wild finish for Eastern. Neither side seemed to gain a foothold as momentum swung from one end of the court to the other. Down 23-21, Frye and Faumui recorded back-to-back kills before Eastern was serving for match point following an attack error by Jaryn Wacker of Commerce. Martinez secured the victory for the Greyhounds to tame the Lions, 29-27.
 
The Greyhounds return to the court on Saturday, Oct. 8 when they host Texas Woman's University. First serve is slated for 6 p.m. For the latest news, follow @ENMUAthletics on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and visit goeasternathletics.com.