SAN ANGELO, Tex. – It was a back-and-forth match between the Western New Mexico University volleyball team and Tarleton State University as the Lady Mustangs fell just short in a five-set marathon, 3-2 (23-25, 25-23, 21-25, 25-17, 10-15) Friday evening at the Angelo State University Invitational.

WNMU (1-1) was in control throughout most of the first set, but TSU (2-0) kept fighting back. A solo block by senior Lauren Buseman (Eagar, AZ/Round Valley) gave the Lady Mustangs a 12-9 lead. The advantage would grow to four at 21-17 following a service error. The Texanns, though, would come back to tie at 22 forcing a WNMU timeout. Out of the break, junior Leeta Grap (Kamuela, HI/Hawaii Preparatory Academy) pounded a kill, but it would be the last point for the Lady Mustangs with TSU closing with the next three points to take the first set, 25-23.

The second set went the way of WNMU early on as well, jumping out to the 9-4 lead and still holding the lead at 17-13 on an attack error. Out of a TSU timeout, the Texanns would keep chipping away coming back to tie at 20 and then held a 22-20 lead when WNMU roared back. After a pair of attack errors tied the set, freshman Heather Verrill (Barstow, CA/Barstow ) pushed WNMU in front, 23-22. A service error re-tied the set, before Verill added another kill and an attack error gave WNMU the 25-23 set win to knot the match at a set a piece.

TSU looked to be ready to run away with the third set, getting ahead 21-16. WNMU would come back to within two at 22-20 and again at 23-21, but the Texanns would prevail thanks to a service error and a kill to take the third frame, 25-21.

That meant the Lady Mustangs had to win to stay alive and similar to the other sets, it was back-and-forth. WNMU appeared ready to take control following a double-block by Buseman and Verrill, but a 6-1 TSU run tied the set at 16. The Lady Mustangs were unfazed, however, tallying the next three points with kills from Grap and freshman Morgan Lyneis (Victorville, CA/Apple Valley), before an ace from freshman Opal Drapeau (Denver, CO/Bishop Machebeuf Catholic ) pushed the advantage to 19-16. TSU would tally the next point, but a 6-0 run by WNMU sealed the set with Grap posting a kill and an ace, sophomore Shannon Rich (Folsom, CA/Folsom) a kill and a pair of kills from Lyneis and junior Sheila Menezes (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Escola Estadual Prof. Antonio Ablas Filho) gave WNMU the 25-17 set and sent the match to the decisive fifth.

Lyneis pushed WNMU ahead, 10-8, on a kill, but it would turn out to be the final point for the Lady Mustangs in the fifth as the Texanns came back with a 7-0 run to take the set, 15-10, and the match, 3-2.

Both teams struggled with their hitting percentages, as WNMU hit at a .100 clip (44 kills to 28 errors in 160 chances), while TSU hit right at .040 (49 kills to 42 errors in 174 chances).

Grap once again led the Lady Mustangs in kills with 14 and posted a .170 hitting percentage. She also added 12 digs, a service ace and a block assist. Verrill and Lyneis added eight kills apiece. Freshman Kylie Fraga (Kennewick, WA/Southridge) dished out 24 assists, along with eight digs. Menezes led the way in digs with 17, while junior Barbara Soranzo (Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil/Mestre Santa Barbara) posted 15. Buseman led on the defensive end with six block assists and one solo.

WNMU will face Arkansas-Fort Smith and host Angelo State Saturday to conclude the Angelo State University Invitational.