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Western New Mexico University Athletics

Western New Mexico University Athletics
Heather Verrill
Jay Hemphill, WNMU
1
A&M-Commerce TAMUC 17-10, 12-5 LSC
3
Winner Western N.M. WNMU 9-16, 9-8 LSC
A&M-Commerce TAMUC
17-10, 12-5 LSC
1
Final
3
Western N.M. WNMU
9-16, 9-8 LSC
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 F
A&M-Commerce TAMUC 18 19 25 28 (1)
Western N.M. WNMU 25 25 20 30 (3)

Game Recap: Volleyball | | Brian Kortz

Lady Mustangs Pull Off Big Win Over Lions

SILVER CITY, N.M. – After cruising to a 2-0 lead, it was a battle after that for the Western New Mexico University volleyball team as they dropped the third set and Texas A&M-Commerce nearly took the fourth set before the Lady Mustangs pulled out the exciting 3-1 victory (25-18, 25-19, 20-25, 30-28) Friday night in Lone Star Conference action.

The 30-28 score in a set is the second time this season these teams have played that far past 25, as Texas A&M-Commerce won the 30-28 first set back on Oct. 7 in Commerce. The Lions entered the contest second in the conference standings.

Both teams at time hit well, but the blocking of both squads were good throughout the match with the Lions (17-10, 12-5 LSC) holding a 14-12 edge on blocks. Both teams hit around .200 with WNMU (9-16, 9-8 LSC) collecting a .208 percentage (56-23-159) and the Lions at .182 (60-31-159).

The first 19 points saw little separation in the first set before WNMU reeled off three straight for a 12-10 lead behind a pair of errors and a service ace by senior Alanna Watt (Hague, Saskatchewan/Hague). Ahead 16-15, the Lady Mustangs made their move scoring the next six points to open up a 22-15 lead. Redshirt freshman Christiana DuBose (Bowie, MD/Bowie) started the run with a solo block. The Lions then committed three straight errors before Watt and DuBose capped the rally with kills. The teams would trade points before senior Heather Verrill (Barstow, CA/Barstow) ended the set with a kill at 25-18.

The Lions roared out to a 4-1 lead to start the second, just to watch WNMU come right back with an 8-0 spurt. After a few attack errors, senior Kelli McGhiey (Pearl City, HI/Sacred Hearts Academy) and senior Kalie Lyle (Phoenix, AZ/Sandra Day O' Connor) posted kills for the 9-4 advantage. Texas A&M-Commerce made one last push getting back to within three and one last time down by four at 19-15 before WNMU began to put the set away. McGhiey started what would be a 4-0 run to stretch the lead to 23-15. Watt added a service ace and after DuBose set down a kill, an attacking error ended the run. DuBose added another kill to move WNMU to set point in which Verrill finished off with a kill at 25-19 to take the 2-0 match lead. WNMU hit .345 (15-5-29) in the second set.

It was a back-and-forth start to the third set before the Lions moved out to a 14-11 lead. Following a kill by Verrill, Texas A&M-Commerce went on a 5-0 run to move out to a 19-12 lead. WNMU fought back to within four at 21-17 and again to within four at 24-20 before the Lions sealed the set on the next point for the 25-20 third set win to move the match to a fourth set.

The Lady Mustangs wasted little time getting a jump start on things in the fourth set scoring the first four points by Verrill, McGhiey and Lyle. The lead reached seven at 12-5 on a solo block by junior Aspen Luna (Rota, Spain/Farragut). The set was far from over with the Lions going on a 7-2 run to get to within two at 14-12. McGhiey answered with a kill to send WNMU on their own 4-0 run to open up an 18-12 lead. Watt and Lyle added points around an attack error to move out to the six-point lead. After holding a 19-13 advantage, the Lions all-of-a-sudden got right back into the set as they went on a 9-2 run to take the lead at 22-21. The Lady Mustangs fought back to move to match point at 24-23 on a double-block by Verrill and sophomore Cristal Carrizoza (Phoenix, AZ/North). The Lions answered to move to set point at 25-24 and out of a WNMU timeout, Verrill and Lyle collected kills to move WNMU back to match point at 26-25. After the teams traded points, the Lions again saved match point and had one last chance at the set leading 28-27 when an attack error helped send the Lady Mustangs on a 3-0 run to end the match. DuBose tallied a kill and then she teamed with Watt for a block to give WNMU the exciting 30-28 win and 3-1 match victory.
WNMU held a solid advantage in service aces (6-1), while the Lions led in assists (57-52) and digs (70-63).

Lyle led three Lady Mustangs in double-digit kills with 12, followed by Watt with 11 and Verrill with 10. McGhiey just missed double-figures with nine. Carrizoza dished out 34 assists while on defense senior Ashley Mataele (Laie, HI/Kahuku) had 21 digs and DuBose sent back six blocks with one solo. Verrill added five blocks with two coming solo.

Shelley Chapron paced the Lions with 11 kills, Layne Little added 10. Gabriela Rosa had 34 assists, while on defense Savannah Rutledge had 20 digs and Chapron with eight blocks, one coming solo.

With the win, WNMU is in good shape to clinch a LSC Tournament spot as they hold a three-match lead over ninth-place Midwestern State with three matches to play.

WNMU will close out their home portion of the schedule tomorrow (Saturday) against Texas Woman's starting at 6 p.m. Eastern New Mexico took the 3-0 victory over Texas Woman's earlier tonight. It will also be senior day for the six Lady Mustang seniors in Aspen Luna (Rota, Spain/Farragut), Kelli McGhiey (Pearl City, HI/Sacred Hearts Academy), Kalie Lyle (Phoenix, AZ/Sandra Day O' Connor), Alanna Watt (Hague, Saskatchewan/Hague), Heather Verrill (Barstow, CA/Barstow) and Ashley Mataele (Laie, HI/Kahuku).
 
 
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