Lady Lions come up short against Commerce in volleyball
August 29, 2009

By RANDI JOHNSON
Herald-Banner Staff

GREENVILLE -- The Greenville Lady Lions fought hard but came up short against Commerce Lady Tigers in Friday’s volleyball matchup in Greenville, 25-23, 25-21, 25-17.

“We start out kind of slow in the beginning, but manage to stick with it, and in time pull away in the end,” said Commerce head coach Kelsey Hall.

Greenville was in for a battle against No. 8 state-ranked Commerce, which now has an 18-3 record.

Opening up strong, Greenville placed the first points on the scoreboard, getting fans pumped up for the match.

Commerce claimed a 9-8 lead on a kill by Raven Massey.

Greenville kept it close the rest of the way as the Lady Tigers won game one, 25-23.

Greenville rallied in game two to tie it at 12-12 on a block by Meghan Litchfield.

Greenville got up 21-19 but Commerce tied it at 21-21 and then scored the next four points.

The Lady Lions brought the crowd alive again in game three but Massey had a big kill to tie it at 13-13. Commerce then scored 12 of the next four points to put the match away.

“We kept fighting all the way to the end,” said Hall.

Commerce takes on Caddo Mills in the Wills Point tournament at 3 p.m. today.

Morgan Bloyed led Greenville with 17 assists and five kills. Litchfield finished with two kills, four assists, two blocks and seven digs.

Ashley Abbott and Maygan Bloyed both had six kills for Greenville and Emelie Kilgore added five.

Shanterria Riley led the Lady Lions’ defense with 17 digs and Hannah Johnson finished with four digs.