Volleyball Hits the Road to Play at Midwestern State, Cameron

WICHITA FALLS, Texas/LAWTON, Okla. – Having split their opening Lone Star Conference schedule against Eastern New Mexico and Texas A&M-Kingsville, the Western New Mexico University volleyball team hits the road to face Midwestern State and Cameron this Friday and Saturday.

The home schedule got off to a great start this past Tuesday when WNMU (1-9, 1-1 LSC) rolled past in-state rival Eastern New Mexico, 3-0. After the Greyhounds tripped up Texas A&M-Kingsville last Friday in Portales, 3-1, the Javelinas responded in Silver City on Saturday when they downed the Lady Mustangs, 3-0.

It's been a struggle on the road this season, with WNMU holding a 0-6 mark in neutral contests and 0-2 in true road matches. They went five sets against Malone and four sets with host Westminster in their last road trip in Salt Lake City, but fell short.

The Lady Mustangs have done well in the third set this season, as they have tallied 213 points, their next best set is the second with 207 points. The first set has been a challenge with just 195 points. WNMU has 400 kills this season to 476 for opponents which has led to a .131 hitting percentage, while opponents counter with a .250 percentage. Blocking has also favored the opponent with 99 blocks to 58.5.

Senior Kalie Lyle (Phoenix, AZ/Sandra Day O' Connor) reached 100 kills on the season this past week and is hitting .221 to lead the team in both categories. Senior Alanna Watt (Hague, Saskatchewan/Hague) is second with 78 kills, while freshman Sarai Migao (Temecula, CA/Chaparral) adds 53. Sophomore Cristal Carrizoza (Phoenix, AZ/North) has 191 assists, while on defense senior Ashley Mataele (Laie, HI/Kahuku) has 146 digs and sophomore Hanna Tishlarich has sent back 26 blocks. Senior Heather Verrill (Barstow, CA/Barstow) made an immediate impact in her first two matches back this past week as she tallied 10 blocks, five each match and has eight kills.

WNMU ranks in the top-10 in the Lone Star Conference in a few categories including fifth in team attacks per set (36.20), eighth in assists per set (10.94), digs per set (14.97) and ninth in team digs (524). Individually, Lyle ranks third in attacks per set (9.37), kills per set (3.70) and points per set (3.91). She is 60^th nationally in kills per set. Mataele checks in at eighth in digs per set (4.17), while Carrizoza is 10^th in assists per set (5.62).

The Lady Mustangs will open against the other Mustangs in the conference in Midwestern State on Friday night starting at 5:30 p.m. Central Time. MSU is 6-4 overall and also 1-1 in the LSC after falling to West Texas A&M, before coming back with a 3-0 sweep of UT Permian Basin. This will be their home opener. They have tallied 464 kills to 392 for opponents, tallying a .205 hitting percentage to .182 for opponents. They have excelled in the later sets, outscoring opponents in the third, fourth and fifth sets.

Semer Addison leads the team with 95 kills and is hitting .363. Rockelle Gholson adds 84 kills and Addy Cook with 69. Kristan Aduddell has dished out 342 assists, while on defense Aerielle Edwards has 153 digs and Semer has sent back 35 blocks.

Last year, WNMU took both meetings with a 3-0 win in Silver City, before a hard-fought 3-2 win in Wichita Falls. Live stats will be available for the match.

To close the trip on Saturday, WNMU will travel up the road to Lawton, Okla., to face Cameron at 2 p.m. Central Time. The Aggies are 2-7 overall and 0-2 in the LSC after falling 3-1 at UT Permian Basin and 3-0 at West Texas A&M. They are 1-0 at home this season claiming a 3-0 win on Sep. 12 against Science and Arts. They have tallied 400 kills and hit .190 to 420 kills and .190 for opponents. They have been the opposite of both WNMU and MSU as they have started quick outscoring teams in the first and second sets this year.

Paige Dixon leads the team with 109 kills and is hitting .199. Bristol Lewis adds 67 kills and Ashleigh McFatridge with 65 kills. Brook Conley has dished out 252 assists, while on defense Brittnee Altic has 157 digs and Brandy Carr has sent back 30 blocks.

Last year the teams split the season series with WNMU cruising to a 3-0 win early in the year in Silver City, before Cameron claimed the 3-1 win in Lawton later in the year.

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

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

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

#24 Sarai Migao: OH; 5' 9"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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

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

#24 Sarai Migao
: 5' 9"; Freshman
: OH