Lady Mustangs Get Set For LSC Tournament

STEPHENVILLE, Texas – For the second straight season since joining the Lone Star Conference, the Western New Mexico University volleyball team will compete in the Lone Star Conference Tournament. Also for the second straight year they enter as the seventh seed.

WNMU (9-19, 9-11 LSC) grabbed the seventh slot last year and matched up with Tarleton State in which the fell, 3-0. Tarleton State moved up a spot this year to claim the regular season crown and the right to host the tournament.

The Lady Mustangs will open the tournament on Thursday starting at 2:30 p.m. (Central Time) against second-seed Texas A&M-Commerce. The teams split the regular season series with each winning on their home floors and in four sets.

WNMU is 0-6 in neutral site contests, while Texas A&M-Commerce is 2-4.

Seniors Kalie Lyle (Phoenix, AZ/Sandra Day O' Connor) and Alanna Watt (Hague, Saskatchewan/Hague) have each posted over 200 kills with Lyle at 286 and Watt at 211. Seniors Kelli McGhiey (Pearl City, HI/Sacred Hearts Academy) (156) and Heather Verrill (Barstow, CA/Barstow) (129) are also in triple-digits. Sophomore Cristal Carrizoza (Phoenix, AZ/North) has 599 assists, while on defense senior Ashley Mataele (Laie, HI/Kahuku) has 443 digs and Verrill has sent back 93 blocks in just 69 sets.

Verrill leads the LSC and is ranked 11^th nationally in blocks per set (1.31). Lyle is third in the conference in kills per set (3.21) and points per set (3.46), while Mataele checks in sixth in digs per set (4.57). WNMU as a team ranks seventh in blocks per set (1.95).

The Lions are 20-10 overall and posted a 15-5 mark in the LSC. Since their loss at WNMU on Nov. 3, they won have won three straight against Eastern New Mexico, UT Permian Basin and West Texas A&M.

Layne Little has 300 kills to pace the offense, while the Wacker sisters Jaslyn has 290 and Jaryn adds 240. Gabriela Rosa has 669 assists, while Rylie Fuentes has added 563. On defense, Savannah Rutledge has 467 digs and Shelle Chapron has sent back 138 blocks, while Jaslyn Wacker has 129.

Other matchups in the tournament include No. 3 Angelo State against Texas Woman's at 12 p.m., No. 4 Texas A&M-Kingsville against No. 5 West Texas A&M at 5 p.m. and No. 1 Tarleton State against No. 8 Eastern New Mexico at 7:30 p.m.

If the Lady Mustangs win their match, they would face the winner of Angelo State and Texas Woman's at 5 p.m. on Friday evening.

Live video and stats will be available for the match.

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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

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

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

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