FORT WORTH - Texas Wesleyan University (8-4, 5-0 SAC) defeated Nelson University (6-8, 4-1 SAC) in four sets with scores of (25-18, 24-26, 25-18, and 25-19). In a battle between the current top two teams in the conference, the Rams came out on top in their first match up of the season.

In the first set, the Rams got started early with kills from Victoria Smith and Hanna Rubis as the Rams went up 7-0 to start the set. The Lions tried to come back and inch closer to shorten the gap, but the Rams remained ahead due to strong offensive play. Rubis and Smith continued to be a dynamic duo as they combined for six kills to keep the Lions off balance. Migdaly Bernal added some firepower as well, getting two kills in a row to help the Rams maintain their lead. The Rams ended up taking the first set by a score of 25-19 to take a 1-0 set lead in the match.

In the second set, the Rams continued to show their offensive prowess by ripping off four kills early to take an early 7-5 lead on the Lions. Rubis continued to shred the Lion defense with four more kills to extend the lead to 14-9. The Lions tried to claw their way back, but the Rams continued to keep their lead, Alexander contributed a kill as well as two blocks to put the Rams up 20-16 with the set point getting closer. The Lions managed to win 10 of the next 14 points to take the set 26-24 to tie the match at one set a piece.

The third set started with both team going back and forth and finding themselves close early on with the Rams holding a 7-6 lead. The Rams found their footing and started to regain control of the set with strong offensive points from Alexander to find themselves up 15-10 in the heart of the set.  Texas Wesleyan found themselves in familiar territory as they led 20-14 with the set starting to come to a close, looking to shut the door on the Lions hope of a comeback. Smith and Bernal gave the Rams some clutch kills to help the Rams lead 23-18 with the set in sight. Alexander and Smith combined for a kill block to set up set point, followed by a kill by Bernal to help the Rams take the set by a score of 25-18 and take a 2-1 set lead.

The fourth set saw shades of the first set as the Rams started hot with an early 7-2 lead. The Rams continued to hold their lead with the help of Lyric Biggiers and Alexander as they each had two kills to extended the lead to six by a score of 16-10. The Rams carried that momentum to find themselves up 21-16 late into the set, looking to win the match. The Rams played some solid defense to take advantage of the Lions mistakes to find themselves at match point, the Rams broke through with a final kill from Rubis to win the set 25-19 and take the match three sets to one.

Rubis led the team with 17 kills, her most on the season, followed by Smith with nine and Bernal with eight. Alexander was a wall for the Lions with nine blocks, also Smith helping with five as well. Ruby Rumohr aided the Rams attack with 26 assists, followed by Lillian Breaux with 15. The Rams had strong defensive help with Emily Lewis leading the way with 15 digs along with Rubis who contributed 12 of her own.

The Rams return to action this Friday in a duel with College of the Ozarks at 6pm inside the Sid Richardson Center.