COMMERCE, Texas – The Sugar Bear volleyball team split its opening day matches, sweeping Tarleton State before falling in heartbreak fashion to the hosting Lions in five sets.
 
There were some personal achievements for junior setter Caylan Koons, who was terrific in both matches. She started the year eclipsing 2,000 career assists, doing so in the first game after logging 36 against the Texans. She followed that up with a masterclass in game two, eclipsing 60 assists for the first time in her career, totaling 61 after five sets.
 
The Sugar Bears dominated the Texans in a three-set sweep to start the day, never even allowing 20 points in any of the sets. Koons established a tone quickly, opening the match with an ace, and quickly, the Sugar Bears jumped out to a 10-5 lead. Regan Harp got going soon afterward, with back-to-back kills to keep the run going. Soon, the lead grew to seven, then nine on a Bohannan kill, and sophomore Greyson Button finished the first with a kill of her own.
 
As the second set began, the Texans opened the set with all of the momentum, breaking out to a 10-3 lead. But the Sugar Bears struck back quickly and fiercely, rattling off ten of the next 11 points to take the lead and never looked back. It eventually became a 22-5 run for Central Arkansas, who dominated the set with a pair of 5-0 and 6-0 runs to recover and cruise.
 
The third set was a back-and-forth affair, but once more, small spurts of 3-0 or 4-0 allowed the Sugar Bears to pull away and claim their first victory of the season. It was a balanced effort by the Sugar Bear attackers, as five players recorded six or more kills in the match, led by Laci Bohannan's 15. Central Arkansas also stayed fairly error-free, hitting an astounding .424 on 85 attacks.
 
The second match of the day came against the hosting Lions. In a match that kept fans on the edge of their seats, the Sugar Bear volleyball battled fiercely but ultimately fell short, losing 3-2 to Texas A&M – Commerce in five sets. 
 
The game was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams showcasing their resilience and skill. The Sugar Bears took the first set 25-21, setting the tone for a competitive night. Senior Mackenzie Vernon had 22 points on 20 kills and four assisted blocks. 
 
However, Texas A&M - Commerce responded in the second set, edging out the Sugar Bears 22-25, to even the match at 1-1. The third set saw the Lions regain control with a 25-21 win as the teams continued to battle for even the slightest advantage.
 
The fourth set was another nail-biter, but the Sugar Bears managed to stay alive by taking it 25-22, forcing a decisive fifth set. In the final set, despite the Sugar Bears best efforts and a standout performance from Vernon, who recorded 7 kills. Tied at 23-23, the Lions secured the victory after a pair of errors doomed the Sugar Bears.
 
Central Arkansas will look to bounce back in their next match against Little Rock, tomorrow at 11 a.m. in Commerce, Texas.