KINGSVILLE, Texas – Texas A&M-Kingsville hit .354 and limited the Lady Mustangs to a .140 percentage as the Western New Mexico University volleyball team dropped their Lone Star Conference opener 3-0 Friday afternoon.

The Javelinas won by scores of 25-16, 25-16 and 25-13. Texas A&M-Kingsville (9-1, 1-0 LSC) came out of the gate ready to go, opening an 8-3 lead. Junior Samantha Haupeakui (San Mateo, CA/Aragon) posted a kill and then a double-block by senior Shannon Rich (Folsom, CA/Folsom) and junior Kalie Lyle (Phoenix, AZ/Sandra Day O' Connor ) trimmed the deficit to three at 9-6. Rich and junior Heather Verrill (Barstow, CA/Barstow ) teamed up for a double-block and following a service ace by Lyle and ball handling error by the Javelinas, it was all of a sudden a one-point set at 12-11. Texas A&M-Kingsville responded with a 8-3 run on their way to taking the opening set at 25-16.

WNMU (6-4, 0-1 LSC) opened the second set with a 4-2 lead with a pair of kills by Verrill and two errors by the Javelinas. Texas A&M-Kingsville caught fire after that ripping off a 8-0 run to open a 10-4 lead. The Lady Mustangs tried to get back into the set, but it wasn't to be with the Javelinas grabbing the set at 25-16.

The third set had a similar feel, with WNMU jumping out to another early lead at 4-3 with junior Ashley Mataele (Laie, HI/Kahuku) serving up an ace and a kill by Rich. Freshman Erin Moss (Honolulu, HI/University Laboratory School) had the Lady Mustangs back to within two with a kill at 8-6, just to watch Texas A&M-Kingsville go on a 15-4 run to move a few points away from the match. WNMU didn't go down easy as they responded with kills by junior Morgan Lyneis (Victorville, CA/Apple Valley) and two by Lyle before a kill and service ace closed out the 25-13 set win and match for the Javelinas.

Texas A&M-Kingsville took advantage of not only the strong hitting percentage, but also an 11-2 edge on service aces. They also held the edge in blocks (6-2), assists (33-27), digs (42-38) and kills (35-29).

Lyneis led the offense with seven kills and hit .200. Rich added six and hit .385. Freshman Bailey Gin (Tucson, AZ/Tucson Magnet) dished out 14 assists and junior Melanie Hughes (Riverside, CA/Martin Luther King Jr.) added eight. On defense, Mataele had 17 digs, while Rich added two blocks.
Krystal Faison powered the Javelinas with 10 kills and hit .409. Casey Klobedans added 28 assists, while Madison Brabham sent back three blocks.

WNMU will remain in Texas and travel a few hours south to Laredo where they will play St. Edward's at 2:30 p.m. and Texas A&M International at 5 p.m., both times Central Standard Time on Saturday. Live video and stats will be available for both matches.