LAWTON, Okla. – The Western New Mexico University volleyball team was close in every set Friday night, but weren't able to get over the hump as they were upset by Cameron University 3-1 (23-25, 25-23, 25-27, 24-26) in Lone Star Conference action.

For Cameron, the Aggies picked up their first conference win (1-13) and improved to 3-20 on the season snapping a 14-game losing streak. WNMU falls to 14-10 overall and 6-7 in the conference, despite winning several categories including kills (66-55), service aces (4-2) and assists (62-54). The surprising stat came in blocking with Cameron out blocking WNMU 11-9. Both teams hit nearly the same percentage with WNMU at .194 and Cameron at .199.

The Lady Mustangs opened strong moving out to a 6-3 lead with points from junior Kelli McGhiey (Pearl City, HI/Sacred Hearts Academy ), junior Melanie Hughes (Riverside, CA/Martin Luther King Jr.), junior Heather Verrill (Barstow, CA/Barstow ) and freshman Hannah Tishlarich (Elk Grove, CA/Pleasant Grove). WNMU kept the lead until the Aggies roared back for the 14-12 advantage. Trailing 21-19, senior Shannon Rich (Folsom, CA/Folsom) started a 4-0 run with a kill. Tishlarich then combined for back-to-back blocks, one with junior Kalie Lyle (Phoenix, AZ/Sandra Day O' Connor ) and the other with Verrill, before Verrill capped the spurt with a kill at 23-21. Cameron didn't go away, instead they finished with their own 4-0 run to steal the set 25-23.

The Aggies rode the momentum from their comeback set win to open the second 6-2. The Lady Mustangs found their game on the next point on a kill by Rich. Rich then served the next four points in favor of WNMU with McGhiey, Tishlarich and Rich contributing key tallies for the 7-6 lead. WNMU began to run away with the set at 16-9 as junior Samantha Haupeakui (San Mateo, CA/Aragon), Lyle, McGhiey and freshman Cristal Carrizoza (Phoenix, AZ/North) poured in points. Just when the set appeared to be over, Cameron came back out of nowehere to rip off five straight points and suddenly even the set at 23. Out of a WNMU timeout, the Lady Mustangs regrouped with McGhiey tallying a kill and then an attack error by the Aggies gave WNMU the 25-23 second set to even the match at one.

Out of the between sets break, both teams were ready to go with little to no separation through the early points. Cameron was able to move in front by two at 18-16, but the teams were tied or slightly ahead the rest of the set. With Cameron at set point, 24-23, Rich and Verrill delivered a clutch double-block to keep the set alive. Cameron again moved to set point at 25-24, but Verrill answered with a kill to even the set. After that, the Aggies were going to let anymore set points go to waste forcing WNMU into back-to-back attack errors, with the last resulting in a block to boost Cameron to the 27-25 third set win.

Cameron jumped out early in the fourth set, but the Lady Mustangs came back to eventually open a three-point lead at 16-13 with junior Morgan Lyneis (Victorville, CA/Apple Valley) and McGhiey accounting for points around two Aggie errors. WNMU held the lead until a 6-1 Cameron run pushed them to a 22-20 lead forcing a Lady Mustang timeout. Haupeakui and Lyle were ready out of the break collecting kills to knot the set at 22. After each team served up errors, Lyneis ripped a kill for the 24-23 set lead. Cameron, just like in the previous sets, didn't go away, instead responded with a 3-0 run to take the set at 26-24 and the match 3-1.

Four Lady Mustangs reached double-figures in kills led by 15 from McGhiey. Verrill added 14, 12 from Rich and Lyle with 10. Rich had the best hitting percentage of that group at .321. Hughes and Carrizoza each dished out 27 assists, while on defense junior Ashley Mataele (Laie, HI/Kahuku) was all over the place with 31 digs and Tishlarich had six blocks.

Jenna Gillean led the Aggies with 15 kills, while Paige Dixon added 14. Shelby Mench recorded 50 assists, while on defense Kylee Quillin tallied 21 digs and Joseline Caraveo had nine blocks.

WNMU will look to rebound tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon when they play at Midwestern State starting at 2 p.m. Central Time. Midwestern State fell in three sets earlier tonight to Eastern New Mexico.