Volleyball Faces Nationally-Ranked Tarleton State and Angelo State This Week

STEPHENVILLE/SAN ANGELO, Texas – With the final two regular season matches on the schedule coming up this week, the Western New Mexico University volleyball team will face nationally-ranked Tarleton State and Angelo State this weekend to close the regular season.

WNMU (9-17, 9-9 LSC) has already clinched a spot in the Lone Star Conference Tournament that will take place Nov. 16 as top seed Tarleton State will host. Right now the Lady Mustangs are tied for sixth and likely won't know their final seeding until the matches are completed on Saturday.

WNMU pulled off a big win over Texas A&M-Commerce this past Friday as the Lions are currently second in the conference standings. Texas Woman's played a strong match on Saturday in defeating the Lady Mustangs, as the Pioneers clinched a spot in the tournament with that win.

Senior Kalie Lyle (Phoenix, AZ/Sandra Day O' Connor) leads the team in kills with 273 averaging 3.29 per set. She is third in the conference in kills per set and points per set (3.54). She also has 14 assists, seven service aces, 179 digs and 25 blocks. Senior Alanna Watt (Hague, Saskatchewan/Hague) adds 195 kills, along with 125 digs and 31 blocks. Senior Kelli McGhiey (Pearl City, HI/Sacred Hearts Academy) is third in kills with 148 kills, along with 62 digs and 42 blocks. Senior Heather Verrill (Barstow, CA/Barstow) leads the team in blocks with 90 and adds 120 kills. Senior Ashley Mataele (Laie, HI/Kahuku) leads the way in digs with 414. Sophomore Cristal Carrizoza (Phoenix, AZ/North) has 564 assists. Verrill leads the conference and is seventh in the nation in blocks per set at 1.38. She is also eighth in the conference in hitting percentage at .290. Mataele is sixth in the conference in digs per set at 4.55 and Carrizoza is ninth in assists per set at 6.20.

WNMU will face Tarleton State first on Friday at 6 p.m. Central. The Texanns are ranked 14^th in the latest AVCA Poll and are 24-5 overall and 16-2 in the conference. They have already clinched the regular season title and are 12-0 at home this season. They are also ranked second in the latest NCAA Division II South Central Regional ranking.

Hailey Roberts is having another strong season with 443 kills, averaging 4.52 per set. Adriana Darthuy is second with 297 kills, followed by 192 from Amber Strange. Jordyn Keamo has 942 assists and also has 147 kills. Adrianna Knutson has 435 digs and Roberts is second with 292 and Keamo is third with 280. Hannah McManus leads the team in blocks with 104 and Strange is second with 93.
Tarleton State took the earlier meeting back on Oct. 14 in Silver City, 3-0.

To close the weekend WNMU will face No. 25 Angelo State on Saturday starting at 2 p.m. Central Time. The RamBelles are 19-8 this season and 11-7 in the conference. They are 11-1 at home this year.
Since their loss at West Texas A&M, they have won the last four matches against UT Permian Basin, Texas A&M-Kingsville, Cameron and Midwestern State. The Belles are currently tied for third in the conference standings and are ranked fourth in the Division II South Central rankings.

Brianna Sotello leads the team with 385 kills, followed by Anna Graham with 212. Meghan Parker has 829 assists and on defense, Micheala Sifuentes has 427 digs and Morgan Seaton has sent back 92 blocks.

The two teams played a wild five-set match earlier this season on Oct. 13 in Silver City with the Lady Mustangs coming back from a 1-2 deficit to win in five.

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

#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