Volleyball Takes Two-Match Win Streak on Road to Face Pioneers, Lions

DENTON/COMMERCE, Texas – After winning three of their past four matches, the Western New Mexico University volleyball team will hit the road this week when they will play at Texas Woman's and Texas A&M-Commerce.

WNMU (4-10, 4-2 LSC) currently sits in a tie for second in the Lone Star Conference and have won their last two matches by sweeps over West Texas A&M and UT Permian Basin. It was the first road win of the year in their previous trip tallying the 3-1 victory at Midwestern State.

The Lady Mustangs will open the road swing on Friday at 2:30 p.m. Central Time at Texas Woman's. The two teams split last year with each winning on their home floor.

WNMU will conclude the trip on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. Central Time at Texas A&M-Commerce. The two teams also split last year's matchups with each winning on their home floor.

The Lady Mustangs as a team have 567 kills, 542 assists, 39 service aces, 708 digs and 85.5 total blocks. As a team, WNMU ranks sixth in the conference in total team attacks per set (35.78) and ninth in assists per set (11.06).

Individually, senior Kalie Lyle (Phoenix, AZ/Sandra Day O' Connor) has powered the offense with 150 kills, averaging 3.66 per set. Senior Alanna Watt (Hague, Saskatchewan/Hague) is second with 115 kills. Sophomore Cristal Carrizoza (Phoenix, AZ/North) has 286 assists and sophomore Sophia Mitchell (Katy, TX/Taylor) adds 139. Carrizoza also has 12 service aces. On defense, senior Ashley Mataele (Laie, HI/Kahuku) has 211 digs, averaging 4.31 per set and senior Heather Verrill (Barstow, CA/Barstow) now leads the team in blocks with 28, including five solo.

In the conference, Lyle is third in several categories including attacks per set (9.32), kills per set (3.66) and points per set (3.91). Mataele is eighth in digs per set (4.31) and Carrizoza is 10^th in assists per set (5.96). Lyle has the most kills in a single match in the conference this season when she ripped off 28 against Malone. The next closest is 23 kills. Her 28 kills is also the most in a five-set match in the conference.

WNMU will go against the Pioneers of Texas Woman's first on Friday. TWU is 6-9 overall and 3-3 in the LSC having won their past two matches, one in conference at Cameron and then a non-conference match at Dallas Baptist. They picked up two big wins on their last homestand taking down then No. 5 Angelo State and Texas A&M-Commerce.

As a team, they have 678 kills, 640 assists, 58 service aces, 833 digs and 99 total blocks. Briley Cole-Lewis leads the team with 144 kills, followed by Courtney Noel with 127 and Miri Shade with 114. Katy Ranes has 582 assists and leads the team in service aces with 14. On defense, five have at least 110 digs led by Bailey French's 244. Haley Collins has 57 blocks.

WNMU will close the weekend on Saturday against Texas A&M-Commerce. The Lions are 9-7 overall and 4-2 in the conference, posting a 3-0 mark at home and are currently on a three-match winning streak tallying victories against Cameron, Midwestern State and Southeastern Oklahoma State, all on the road. During their last homestand, they picked up two wins over No. 5 Angelo State and No. 14 Tarleton State, both in five sets. That led them to receive votes at the time in the AVCA Poll.

As a team they have 784 kills, 745 assists, 88 service aces, 973 digs and 132 blocks. Four players have at least 110 kills led by Jaryn Wacker's 166, Layne Little has 155, Jaslyn Wacker with 153 and Shelley Chapron with 110. Gabriela Rosa sets the table with 364 assists and Savannah Rutledge has spun in 20 service aces. On defense, five have at least 123 digs led by Rutledge's 206. Chapron has sent back 66 blocks, while Jaslyn Wacker adds 59.

Live video and stats will be available for both matches.

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Players Mentioned

#1 Cristal Carrizoza: S; 5' 8"; Sophomore

#12 Kalie Lyle: OH; 5' 7"; Senior

#23 Ashley Mataele: DS; 5' 7"; Senior

#16 Heather Verrill: RS; 6' 3"; Senior

#13 Alanna Watt: OH; 5' 9"; Senior

#10 Sophia Mitchell: S; 5' 8"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#1 Cristal Carrizoza
: 5' 8"; Sophomore
: S

#12 Kalie Lyle
: 5' 7"; Senior
: OH

#23 Ashley Mataele
: 5' 7"; Senior
: DS

#16 Heather Verrill
: 6' 3"; Senior
: RS

#13 Alanna Watt
: 5' 9"; Senior
: OH

#10 Sophia Mitchell
: 5' 8"; Sophomore
: S