Texarkana, Texas – The Texas A&M University‑Texarkana Eagles finished the regular season in dominant fashion on Friday, sweeping a doubleheader against Texas College and locking up a third straight Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) regular‑season title.
Senior honors and a career milestone
Before the matches, the program honored seniors Flor Lazo, Isabella Gomez and Mia Chavez‑Ayabar for their contributions. The day also featured a special recognition for senior captain Keira Nienkamp of the TAMUT Dance team. In the first match, senior libero Lauren Herz recorded the 2,000th dig of her collegiate career, a testament to her consistency throughout her time with the Eagles.
First match: a 3‑0 rout
The Eagles opened the doubleheader with a commanding 3‑0 victory, allowing just ten points total. Texas College was held to 5‑25, 5‑25 and 0‑25 set scores while A&M‑Texarkana posted a .500 team hitting percentage and forced a –.327 attack percentage from the Steers.
Key contributors included freshman Faith Di Mola, who led the team with eight kills at a .368 hitting percentage, and sophomore Alivia Schlichte, who added seven kills while posting an impressive .667 attacking percentage. Senior Flor Lazo contributed five kills, and both Lesley Sanchez and Macyen Doskocil added four each. Isabella Gomez directed the offense with 16 assists and four service aces, while Lauren Herz added three aces. Leilah Lemalu topped the team with eight digs.
Second match: another straight‑sets sweep
The momentum continued in the nightcap. The Eagles took the opening set 25‑9, limited Texas College to three points in the second set, and closed the match with a 25‑6 third set. A&M‑Texarkana finished the match with a .590 hitting percentage while holding the visitors to a –.220 attack percentage.
Oniya King paced the Eagles with nine kills at a .818 hitting percentage, and senior Mia Mata followed with eight kills at .800. Senior Flor Lazo added seven kills and an outstanding .778 percentage. Isabella Gomez recorded 19 assists and a service ace, while Ashley Rhame contributed 12 assists and two aces. Freshman Mia Shealey‑Hendrix sparked the service line with five aces, and senior Mia Chavez‑Ayabar added two aces and five digs in her Senior Day appearance.
Season implications
The double‑header victories improved the Eagles’ record to 19‑9 overall and 18‑2 in conference play, sealing the program’s third consecutive RRAC regular‑season championship. The team now looks ahead to postseason competition with valuable momentum and confidence.
Coach [Name not provided in source] praised the seniors for their leadership and highlighted the depth of the roster as a key factor in the season’s success. “Our players have shown tremendous growth, discipline and a commitment to excellence both on and off the court,” the coach said.
The community has rallied around the Eagles, with many local families attending the matches to support the student‑athletes. The victories underscore the strength of A&M‑Texarkana’s athletics program and its role in fostering school spirit and pride throughout the Texarkana region.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
