Texas Woman’s Holds Off Lady Mustangs

Box Score DENTON, Texas – The Western New Mexico University volleyball team came oh so close to taking the first two sets against Texas Woman's University, but the Pioneers held off the Lady Mustangs for the 3-0 (21-25, 23-25, 17-25) victory Friday afternoon in Lone Star Conference action.

WNMU (4-11, 4-3 LSC) fought back to within a few points in the first set before coming up short and then got even closer in the second set, holding a late one-point lead before falling by two.

Senior Kalie Lyle (Phoenix, AZ/Sandra Day O' Connor) continued her offensive tear with 15 kills and posted a double-double with 14 digs, to go along with two blocks (one solo) and a .375 hitting percentage. Senior Heather Verrill (Barstow, CA/Barstow) had one of her top offensive matches since returning from injury with six kills and a .462 hitting percentage. Sophomore Cristal Carrizoza (Phoenix, AZ/North) had 23 of the 32 assists and senior Ashley Mataele (Laie, HI/Kahuku) added a team-high 16 digs.

After taking an early 5-4 lead in the first set on a double-block by junior Aspen Luna (Rota, Spain/Farragut) and freshman Delaney Seitz (Hillsboro, OR/Century), TWU (7-9, 4-3 LSC) responded going on a 8-2 run to open up a 12-7 advantage. The Lady Mustangs got back to within two at 16-14 and later made one last push to pull to within three at 24-21 when the Pioneers took the set with a kill by Briley Cole-Lewis.

WNMU came out ready in the second frame, moving out to an 8-5 lead on a kill from junior Kijana Best (San Francisco, CA/Mercy). The lead was still at three at 14-11, when TWU fought back to take the lead back at 20-18. Just when it looked like the Lady Mustangs were in trouble, Lyle went off drilling three straight kills, all off passes from Carrizoza, to turn a deficit into a 22-21 lead and forcing TWU into a timeout. Out of the break, the Pioneers went on their own 3-0 spurt to move to set point at 24-22. WNMU then utilized their timeout and got to within a point at 24-23 before Makayla Mayfield ended the set with a kill for TWU giving them the tight 25-23 set win and 2-0 match lead.

A double-block by Verrill and Lyle had WNMU holding a 3-1 lead to start the third set. Another double-block, this time by senior Kelli McGhiey (Pearl City, HI/Sacred Hearts Academy) and Verrill again had the Lady Mustangs with a 10-9 lead before TWU came back with a 4-0 run to move out to a 13-10 advantage. An attack error by TWU left WNMU down just two at 15-13, but that would be as close as they could get the rest of the way. The Pioneers finished the set on a 10-4 run for the 25-17 set win and 3-0 match victory.

TWU held a 47-33 edge on kills, 4-1 on service aces and 8-5 on blocks. WNMU hit .133 (33-17-120), while TWU finished with a .219 clip (47-19-128).

Miri Shade had a big offensive match for the Pioneers tallying 16 kills and a .312 hitting percentage, she also added a double-double with 13 digs. Mayfield added 10 kills and 13 digs, while hitting .286. Caroline Noel sent back six blocks.

WNMU will turn around and play at Texas A&M-Commerce tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon at 2 p.m. Central Time.

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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

#7 Kelli McGhiey: OH/MB; 6' 0"; Senior

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

#2 Aspen Luna: OH; 5' 7"; Junior

#5 Kijana Best: OH; 5' 6"; Junior

#14 Delaney Seitz: MB; 5' 10"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

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

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

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

#7 Kelli McGhiey
: 6' 0"; Senior
: OH/MB

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

#2 Aspen Luna
: 5' 7"; Junior
: OH

#5 Kijana Best
: 5' 6"; Junior
: OH

#14 Delaney Seitz
: 5' 10"; Freshman
: MB