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Western New Mexico University Athletics

Western New Mexico University Athletics
VB Win Over Angelo State
Jay Hemphill, WNMU
2
Angelo State ASU 13-5, 5-4 LSC
3
Winner Western N.M. WNMU 5-12, 5-4 LSC
Angelo State ASU
13-5, 5-4 LSC
2
Final
3
Western N.M. WNMU
5-12, 5-4 LSC
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
Angelo State ASU 25 23 25 21 11 (2)
Western N.M. WNMU 23 25 21 25 15 (3)

Game Recap: Volleyball | | Brian Kortz

Lady Mustangs Take Down No. 17 Angelo State in Five

SILVER CITY, N.M. – After trailing 2-1 entering the fourth set, the Western New Mexico University volleyball team fought back to force a decisive fifth set in which they ultimately won to upset No. 17 Angelo State University 3-2 (23-25, 25-23, 21-25, 25-21, 15-11) Friday night in Lone Star Conference action.

It was the first home win over a nationally-ranked team since the Lady Mustangs took down then No. 24 Regis in 2013, 3-0.

While seniors Alanna Watt (Hague, Saskatchewan/Hague) (15), Kelli McGhiey (Pearl City, HI/Sacred Hearts Academy) (12) and Heather Verrill (Barstow, CA/Barstow) (11) combined for 38 kills to lead the team, junior Kijana Best (San Francisco, CA/Mercy) had a huge impact off the bench as she played late in the fourth set and all of the fifth to pile up eight big kills to help lead in the upset. McGhiey had the top hitting percentage posting a .379 clip with just one error in 29 chances. Senior Kalie Lyle (Phoenix, AZ/Sandra Day O' Connor) nearly reached double-digits in kills with nine.

WNMU (5-12, 5-4 LSC) moved to a 5-1 setup and sophomore Cristal Carrizoza (Phoenix, AZ/North) took advantage with 51 assists, as the Lady Mustangs had 57 as a team. On defense, senior Ashley Mataele (Laie, HI/Kahuku) led the way in digs with 15, while three others also reached double-figures in Watt (11), McGhiey (10) and Lyle (10). Verrill recorded six blocks, with one coming solo, while McGhiey added five blocks and one solo.

The Lady Mustangs saved their best for last hitting .303 in the fourth and .321 in the fifth to come back and win the match.

In the opening set, Angelo State (13-5, 5-4 LSC) quickly moved out to a 9-4 lead. The Rambelles continued with the pressure, stretching the advantage to five at 17-12. WNMU didn't go away easily, as three straight kills by Lyle had WNMU to within one before McGhiey tied the set at 20. After a 3-0 spurt by the Belles, a double-block by McGhiey and Verrill had WNMU to within one at 23-22. The teams traded points again with Watt pushing it to a 24-23 lead for ASU before Brianna Sotello ended the set with a kill at 25-23.

It was a big night for Sotello as she led all players with 25 kills, while adding 20 digs.

WNMU brought the energy to start the second set as points by Verrill and Watt had them in front at 4-1. Just like the first set, ASU caught fire and moved in front 10-6 to force a WNMU timeout. Despite a few runs by the Lady Mustangs, the Belles stayed in front until a ball handling error on the middle blocker helped tie the set at 18. WNMU added to the lead thanks to a pair of attack errors for the 20-18 advantage. With WNMU at set point 24-23, McGhiey ended the set after a wild back-and-forth at the net, she was able to just get her attack over the net and into the corner of the court for the kill at 25-23 to even the match at one.

The third set stayed close throughout the first 19 points, before WNMU gained a little separation with kills by Carrizoza and Verrill, around an attack error for a 13-9 lead. McGhiey had the Lady Mustangs still in front by four at 17-13 when ASU caught fire. The Belles ripped off the next seven points to open up a 20-17 lead. Just when it looked like the set was over, the Lady Mustangs came back with the next four points, as a pair of errors by the Belles were then capitalized on kills by Verrill and Watt to move WNMU to a 21-20 lead. After that ASU took charge as they reeled off the next five points to take the set at 25-21 and hold a 2-1 match lead.

 The fourth set had a similar feel to the third, with the teams close through the first 19 points before WNMU went on a big 7-0 run to open up the set. Trailing 10-9, a kill by McGhiey helped start the run, as Verrill, and Best all added points to push WNMU to a 16-10 lead. ASU made one last run pulling to within a point at 19-18, before a kill by junior Aspen Luna (Rota, Spain/Farragut) helped start a 3-0 run with a double-block by Luna and Tishlarich, before a bad set had the lead at 22-18. WNMU then traded points the rest of the way before a kill by Best ended the set at 25-21 to extend the match to a fifth set.

The Belles started the decisive fifth set with a 3-1 lead. It didn't take WNMU long to turn the tables with a kill by McGhiey igniting a 5-0 run. Luna and Verrill also added points during the run that had WNMU ahead 6-3. ASU kept fighting back, as they reeled off the next three points to even the set at six. Holding a 11-9 lead, WNMU pulled through with three of the next four points to move to match point. Best tallied a pair of kills and McGhiey's ended the stretch that had the Lady Mustangs with a 14-10 lead. After ASU scored the next point, an attack error by the Belles gave WNMU the 15-11 set win and 3-2 match victory.

Outside of Sotello's big night to lead ASU, Anna Graham added 17 kills and Bailey Drum had 10. Eadara Files dished out 39 assists, with Meghan Parker adding 24. On defense, Micheala Sifuentes had 27 digs and Graham sent back five blocks.

Both teams hit over .200 with ASU tallying a .231 percentage (71-29-182), while WNMU countered with a .222 clip (63-24-176). ASU held the edge in service aces (4-2), assists (67-57) and digs (76-67), while the Lady Mustangs held the advantage in blocks (11-9).

WNMU will turn around and host No. 15 Tarleton State tomorrow (Saturday) night starting at 6 p.m. The TexAnns rolled to a 3-0 victory at Eastern New Mexico earlier tonight.
 
 
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