Weekend sports preview

The A&M-Commerce volleyball and soccer teams will each face stiff conference tests over the next two nights as both teams head into crucial stretches heading toward the postseason.

The Lions volleyball team (5-10 overall, 1-7 LSC) is in Canyon tonight, to battle the 14th-ranked West Texas A&M Lady Buffs (17-2 overall, 8-1 LSC) at 7 p.m. A&M-Commerce rallied back Tuesday night to defeat Dallas Baptist University in five sets, giving the Lions consecutive wins for the first time this season.

Sophomore Jordan Neal is coming off a week in which she recorded 160 assists during the Texas Woman's tournament and added 56 in the win over DBU, one short of her career-best. Neal was named Setter of the Week by the Lone star Conference.

Following Thursday's match, the Lions will head to Portales, N.M. to face Eastern New Mexico at 7 p.m. Saturday Oct. 8. The Zias are tied with A&M-Commerce at 1-7 in LSC play and hold a 4-12 record this season. The Lions are 6-4 all-time against ENMU.

While the volleyball team logs plenty of miles, Neil Piper's soccer squad will stay in Commerce through the weekend, entertaining Angelo State at 7 p.m. Friday, and Incarnate Word at noon Sunday.

The Lions (4-5-2 overall, 2-3-2 LSC) defeated ASU back on Sept. 23, as Jade Bell notched a pair of goals during a 3-2 win in San Angelo. The Lady Cardinals beat A&M-Commerce 3-0 on Sept. 25.

Angelo State currently sits in second place in the LSC standings with a 3-2-2 mark and 11 points in conference play. Incarnate Word is tied for fifth with nine points at 2-2-3.

The A&M-Commerce cross country teams will also be in action this weekend, traveling to Irving to compete in Saturday's University of Dallas Invitational. Last week in Stillwater, Okla., the men placed 23rd out of 29 teams, while the women ran just four contestants and did not qualify for the team standings.

You can find information from A&M-Commerce athletic events – including live updates and commentary – on Twitter by following @EastTexan_Sport.