COMMERCE – Tarleton suffered another tough five-set conference loss Friday night.
 
Tarleton came out swinging in the opening two sets as the TexAnns jumped out to a quick 13-4 lead. After the Lions rallied back to take a 17-15 lead, Tarleton answered with a kill from Abby Mackey and a combo block by Jordyn Keamo and Hannah McManus to even things up at 17-17.
 
McManus teamed up with Hailey Roberts for the next point to put Tarleton back on top at 18-17. From there, Tarleton scored seven of the next 11 points down the stretch to take the opening set 25-21.
 
Commerce came out in the second set to take nine of the first 15 points before Tarleton rallied with a 6-1 run to reclaim the lead at 12-10 and force the Lions into a timeout. Out of the break, Tarleton maintained its slim lead through 20-19 before Hailey Roberts blasted home a kill shot to put the TexAnns up 21-19 and force the Lions' final timeout of the set.
 
Roberts kept its rolling with a kill shot out of the break. Commerce pulled within one at 23-22 before Abby Mackey landed kills on two of the last three points to give the TexAnns a 25-23 win and a 2-0 lead in the match.
 
In the third set, Commerce jumped out to a 16-6 lead and ultimately rode the early lead to win 25-15 and force a fourth set. In the fourth set, the teams stayed even through the first 38 points to a 19-19 tie before Commerce scored six of the final seven points to take the set and forve the fifth set.
 
Tarleton wasn't able to get much momentum in the fifth set as the TexAnns scored consecutive points only once in the final frame and fell 15-5.
 
Hailey Roberts led the team with 25 kills and added 17 digs while Abby Mackey added kills. Rebecca Dauenhauer and Chandler Gow added six kills each. Jordyn Keamo also recorded a double-double with 49 assists and 10 assists. Adrianna Knutson led the team with 21 digs on the night.
 
Tarleton will look to get back in the win column tomorrow afternoon when they visit Texas Woman's at 2 p.m. in Denton.