PORTALES, N.M. -- The numbers were very close across the board, but in the end the Western New Mexico University volleyball team wasn't able to come back to defeat Eastern New Mexico falling 3-1 (17-25, 25-22, 19-25, 22-25) Wednesday night in Lone Star Conference action. 

Junior Kelli McGhiey (Pearl City, HI/Sacred Hearts Academy ) exploded for a season-high 14 kills, while senior Shannon Rich (Folsom, CA/Folsom) sent back four blocks. WNMU (10-5, 2-2 LSC) hit a solid .248 with 49 kills, but ENMU (7-7, 2-2 LSC) did even better hitting .290 with 55 kills. Both teams had 19 errors. In a rarity this season, the Lady Mustangs didn't out-block the other team with the teams tying with five. 

The Greyhounds jumped out to an 8-3 lead in the first set when junior Heather Verrill (Barstow, CA/Barstow ) helped start a 4-0 run with a kill. Junior Samantha Haupeakui (San Mateo, CA/Aragon) added a kill and then a pair of ENMU errors made it 8-7. It became a set of runs with the Greyhounds later responding with a 5-0 run to boost their lead to 16-9. The Lady Mustangs weren't fazed as they came back with a 4-0 run with points by Rich, junior Morgan Lyneis (Victorville, CA/Apple Valley), as Lyneis was in on three of the points leaving the deficit at two, 15-13. A McGhiey kill at 18-14 would end up being as close as WNMU could get the rest of the way with ENMU taking the 25-17 first set victory. 

WNMU broke open at 5-all tie in the second set with a 4-0 run thanks to three ENMU errors and a service ace by freshman Bailey Gin (Tucson, AZ/Tucson Magnet). The Greyhounds threatened to come back and take the lead with WNMU ahead at just 12-11, but another run gave the Lady Mustangs the breathing room they needed to take the set. McGhiey started the spurt with a kill, then added a service ace before Rich took over with a kill and then solo block for the 16-11 advantage. ENMU made one late run trimming the deficit to two at 20-18, but a service error and attack error helped lead the Lady Mustangs to the set with Rich sealing the final point at 25-22. 

The teams went back-and-forth throughout the third set when ENMU was able to strong together a run for the 17-11 lead. Trailing 20-12, WNMU went on a 5-0 run to make things interesting. McGhiey started the run with a kill and later junior Melanie Hughes (Riverside, CA/Martin Luther King Jr.) spun in a service ace and a kill by Rich around two errors by ENMU had the deficit at just three, 20-17. The Greyhounds controlled the rest of the set taking the third at 25-19. 

ENMU moved in front early at 7-3 in the fourth set. The deficit was at least three until a pair of attack errors by ENMU had the Lady Mustangs to within just two at 19-17. ENMU went back on another run before an attack error and kill by Hughes had WNMU back to within two at 24-22, but the Greyhounds sealed the set at the match with a kill to take the 25-22 set win. 

Outside of McGhiey's 14 kills, Rich posted eight and Verrill with six. Three had at least 10 assists led by 13 from freshman Cristal Carrizoza (Phoenix, AZ/North), 12 from Gin and 10 from Hughes. In addition to Rich's four blocks, Haupeakui had three and in digs, junior Ashley Mataele (Laie, HI/Kahuku) tallied 17. 

Brooklyn Biel led ENMU with 14 kills and added 13 digs.  

WNMU will remain on the road as they will play at West Texas A&M Friday night at 6 p.m. (Central Standard Time).