SAN ANGELO, Texas – No. 11 Angelo State University limited the Western New Mexico University volleyball team to a .118 hitting percentage and four blocks as the Belles claimed the 3-0 (25-19, 25-12, 25-21) Lone Star Conference victory Friday night. 

Having been on a hitting and blocking tear over the past week-plus, WNMU (13-7, 5-4 LSC) wasn't able to get going against the 11th-ranked Belles (17-2, 8-1 LSC) as the Lady Mustangs had 35 kills, but added 22 errors to hit .118. Angelo State countered with 38 kills and had 12 errors to post a .241 percentage. Each team had four blocks, while an eight-to-two service ace advantage favored the Belles. 

Junior Heather Verrill (Barstow, CA/Barstow ) did all she could with 11 kills to just three errors in 23 swings to come away with a .348 percentage. Junior Samantha Haupeakui (San Mateo, CA/Aragon) added nine kills and six for senior Shannon Rich (Folsom, CA/Folsom). Morgan Seaton hit .667 with six kills and no errors to post the top hitting percentage of the night for the Belles, while Mallory Blauser posted 13 kills. 

WNMU held a 6-4 lead early in the first set with back-to-back kills by Verrill. Still tied at nine, Angelo State began to push in front going on a 5-0 run to take a 14-9 lead. The Lady Mustangs fought back to within four a couple of times, but that would be as close as they could get the rest of the set with the Belles coming away with the 25-19 set win. 

The second set was all Angelo State. WNMU held an early 2-1 lead following an attack error before a quick 4-0 run had the Belles in front for good. Junior Kelli McGhiey (Pearl City, HI/Sacred Hearts Academy ) tallied a kill at 6-4 and then a 19-8 run the rest of the set gave the Belles a 25-12 second set win. 

The third set was the most competitive of the night and one WNMU nearly claimed late. With the teams either tied or with small leads throughout, WNMU looked to be in good shape after Verrill tallied a kill and an attack error by the Belles gave the Lady Mustangs a 21-19 lead. Out of a Belles' timeout, they countered with the next six points to take the set at 25-21 and the match 3-0. 

Outside of the offensive kill numbers, junior Melanie Hughes (Riverside, CA/Martin Luther King Jr.) and freshman Bailey Gin (Tucson, AZ/Tucson Magnet) dished out 13 assists apiece. Junior Ashley Mataele (Laie, HI/Kahuku) came away with 14 digs, while Rich tallied three blocks. 

Meghan Parker dished out 31 assists to lead Angelo State, Mallory Davidson added 15 digs and Leiyona Young had four blocks. 

WNMU will have a quick turnaround as they will play at Tarleton State at 2 p.m. (Central Time) Saturday afternoon. The TexAnns posted a 3-0 win over Eastern New Mexico earlier tonight.