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Western New Mexico University Athletics

Western New Mexico University Athletics
Ashley Mataele, Kalie Lyle
Jay Hemphill, WNMU
0
Eastern N.M. ENMU 2-7, 0-1 LSC
3
Winner Western N.M. WNMU 1-8, 1-0 LSC
Eastern N.M. ENMU
2-7, 0-1 LSC
0
Final
3
Western N.M. WNMU
1-8, 1-0 LSC
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 F
Eastern N.M. ENMU 21 19 17 (0)
Western N.M. WNMU 25 25 25 (3)

Game Recap: Volleyball | | Brian Kortz

Lady Mustangs Shut Down Greyhounds in LSC Sweep

SILVER CITY, N.M. – Coming home was just what the doctor ordered for the Western New Mexico University volleyball team. After a pair of tough road trips to start the season, the Lady Mustangs came home and responded in style rolling to the 3-0 (25-21, 25-19, 25-17) Lone Star Conference victory over Eastern New Mexico University Tuesday evening inside Drag's Court.

WNMU (1-8, 1-0 LSC) was clicking on all cylinders against the Greyhounds (2-7, 0-1 LSC) as they held the edge in points (56-42), kills (45-32), blocks (6-4), assists (42-31) and in digs (52-42). After a slow start to the first set in which the Lady Mustangs hit just .174, they caught fire posting .387 in the second and .323 in the third. They held ENMU under .200 in sets one and two and then to a .212 clip in the third.

Senior Kalie Lyle (Phoenix, AZ/Sandra Day O' Connor) continued her torrid offensive pace, recovering from just four kills against West Alabama to rip off 13 kills to no errors in 24 swings for a .542 hitting percentage. Fellow senior Alanna Watt (Hague, Saskatchewan/Hague) added 12 kills. While sophomore Cristal Carrizoza (Phoenix, AZ/North) led the offense with 20 assists, sophomore Bailey Gin (Tucson, AZ/Tucson Magnet) provided a spark late in the first set and was second is assists with 18. On defense, Carrizoza (11) and senior Ashley Mataele (Laie, HI/Kahuku) (10) led in digs, while senior Heather Verrill (Barstow, CA/Barstow), in her first match of the season, led the team in blocks with five.

Early on in the first set, it looked like WNMU was poised to run away with it jumping out to the 8-3 advantage. During the run, a double-block by Verrill and freshman Sarai Migao (Temecula, CA/Chaparral) triggered a 6-0 spurt. After the block, Watt collected a pair of kills and around a pair of errors by ENMU, sophomore Hannah Tishlarich (Elk Grove, CA/Pleasant Grove) had a solo block. The lead stretched to seven at 13-6 on a Greyhound attack error, but just when it seemed ENMU was going away, they began to get back into the set. The Greyhounds posted a quick 3-0 run a few points later to even the set at 18. With WNMU holding a slim 20-19 edge, the Lady Mustangs sealed the set. The final 5-2 run was started with an ENMU service error. Lyle added a kill, then joined with Verrill for a block before an attack error had WNMU at set point, 24-19. ENMU collected the next two points before Verrill ended the set with a kill at 25-21.

ENMU controlled the second set early on and still held a 10-9 advantage when Lyle fired in two kills to push WNMU ahead. After the teams traded points until 12-all, a Migao kill ignited a 5-0 run to put the set away for the Lady Mustangs. During the run, Watt and Tishlarich added points. After ENMU made one last push at 21-19, Verrill recorded the next point to send the Lady Mustangs on a 4-0 run to take the set 25-19. Migao capped the run with the final point off a kill.

WNMU wasted little time taking control of the third set, breaking open an early 2-2 tie with the next six points. During the run, senior Kelli McGhiey (Pearl City, HI/Sacred Hearts Academy) tallied a kill, along with two from Watt, a double-block by McGhiey and Verrill and then a service ace from Lyle. Junior Aspen Luna (Rota, Spain/Farragut) and Lyle added kills to another run, this one a 4-0 variety for a 14-5 lead. ENMU made one last charge, pulling back to within four at 19-15 before WNMU put the match away. Watt helped start another 4-0 run with a kill. After an attack error by ENMU, Watt spun in back-to-back service aces to move in front 23-15. After trading points, Lyle ended the set with a kill at 25-17 to give WNMU the 3-0 victory.

The Greyhounds were led by Sarah Tuioti-Mariner's nine kills. Andrea Aguilar had 15 digs and Jasmine Gannon posted a pair of solo blocks.

WNMU and ENMU will see each other again on Oct. 23 in Portales.

The Lady Mustangs will remain home this coming Saturday when they will face Texas A&M-Kingsville starting at 6 p.m.
 
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