Lady Mustangs Cruise Past Midwestern State in Four

Box Score WICHITA FALLS, Texas – After opening up the night hitting .375 in the first set, the Western New Mexico University volleyball team rode that hot start on their way to defeating Midwestern State University 3-1 (25-17, 15-25, 25-23, 25-17) Friday night in Lone Star Conference action.

Senior Kalie Lyle (Phoenix, AZ/Sandra Day O' Connor) pounded 11 kills, while junior Aspen Luna (Rota, Spain/Farragut) added seven and senior Kelli McGhiey (Pearl City, HI/Sacred Hearts Academy) with six and hit .312. Redshirt freshman Christiana DuBose (Bowie, MD/Bowie) tallied five kills and hit .333. Sophomore Cristal Carrizoza (Phoenix, AZ/North) dished out 26 assists, while on defense senior Ashley Mataele (Laie, HI/Kahuku) had 15 digs, 12 for Lyle and senior Heather Verrill (Barstow, CA/Barstow) posted three blocks.

Holding a 9-6 lead early on in the first set, WNMU (2-9, 2-1 LSC) fought past a run by Midwestern State (6-5, 1-2 LSC) as MSU muscled back to tie the set at 10 before a service error helped ignite a 4-0 run. Mataele added an ace and after a kill by senior Ashley Mataele (Laie, HI/Kahuku), an attack error had WNMU with the 14-10 lead. The lead stretched to seven at 22-15 on a kill by DuBose and then a pair of errors over the final two points gave the Lady Mustangs the 25-17 set win.

The second set was a complete reversal, as WNMU got to within a point at 5-4 on an attack error, but MSU responded going on a 4-0 run to push ahead 9-4. The Lady Mustangs got back to within four on a pair of occasions, with the last at 14-10 on a service ace by Carrizoza before MSU finished the set on a 11-5 run for the 25-15 second set win to even the match at one.

It didn't take long for the Lady Mustangs to explode early in the third set. After being tied at two, a service error started a 7-0 run for WNMU. During the spurt Lyle and Verrill tallied points. MSU made things interesting down the stretch, pulling to within two on a number of occasions before getting to within one at 22-21. WNMU buckled down, converting big points in crucial moments as McGhiey tallied a kill on the next point for a 23-21 lead. Ahead 24-22 on a kill by senior Alanna Watt (Hague, Saskatchewan/Hague), MSU got back to within one point one last time on a service error before an MSU attack error gave WNMU the 25-23 third set win and 2-1 match lead.

WNMU kept the momentum going right into the fourth set, as they broke open an early 5-5 tie with a 4-0 run. McGhiey tied the set at five with a solo block and then several attack errors by MSU helped push WNMU to a 9-5 lead as a double-block by DuBose and Watt capped the spurt. MSU found new life in tying the set at 14, but WNMU had another answer. Lyle scored the next point to send the Lady Mustangs on a 6-0 run and a lead they wouldn't relinquish. McGhiey and DuBose put down kills for the final two points of the set to give WNMU a 25-17 set win and 3-1 match victory.

Neither team hit well for the match with WNMU at .134 (38-21-127), while MSU hit .148 (47-26-142). MSU also held the edge in blocks (12-5), while WNMU posted a slight advantage in digs (58-56). Erin Richburg led MSU with 11 kills, while Addison Semer added nine. Kristan Aduddell had 40 assists, while on defense, Rockelle Gholson with 13 digs and Richburg with 12 paced MSU. Raven Presley sent back 10 blocks, with three being solo.

WNMU will remain on the road tomorrow (Saturday) when they will play against Cameron at 2 p.m. Central Time. The Aggies fell to Eastern New Mexico, 3-1, earlier tonight.

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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

#2 Aspen Luna: OH; 5' 7"; Junior

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

#15 Christiana DuBose: MB; 6' 0"; Redshirt Freshman

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

#2 Aspen Luna
: 5' 7"; Junior
: OH

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

#15 Christiana DuBose
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Freshman
: MB