SILVER CITY, NM — Western New Mexico University (6-4, 0-0 Lone Star) defeated Eastern New Mexico University (1-9, 0-0 Lone Star) in four sets on Saturday afternoon at Drag's Court, claiming the match 25-19, 23-25, 25-16, 25-16.

Western recorded nine total blocks, contributing to its dominant performance.

Western began the first set with a strong start as Daphne Posthumus (Lelystad, Netherlands/CCNV Harderwijk (Netherlands)) recorded a kill, assisted by Hannah Haggard (Tucson, AZ/Tanque Verde High School), to put the home team on the board. Although Eastern responded with several points, Western found momentum with a service ace from Haggard and a series of kills from Posthumus, leveling the score at 7-7.

Midway through the set, Western surged ahead with a significant run. Jayden Hughes (High Rolls, NM/Cloudcroft High School) and Posthumus capitalized on Eastern errors, contributing to a 6-point streak, which extended their lead to 13-8. Solid defensive plays, including a block from Posthumus and Hailey Meeks, helped maintain the advantage.

In the closing stages, Western maintained their composure despite Eastern's attempts to close the gap. Posthumus continued to be a key player with successive kills, securing the final point after an Eastern service error. The set concluded with Western ahead 25-19, establishing an early lead in the match.

Western opened the second set by keeping pace with Eastern, highlighted by Posthumus contributing multiple kills to keep the score tight. The teams exchanged points early, with Western responding promptly to Eastern's advances, leveling the score at various moments, such as at 13-13 following a service ace by Jayla McDuffie.

Midway through the set, Eastern gained momentum, with Sophia Valdez leading a scoring stretch that pushed them ahead. Despite trailing, Western mounted a comeback effort led by Kaitlyn Salgado and Posthumus, narrowing the gap to 23-22. However, Eastern capitalized on a late kill by Valdez to seal the set at 25-23, keeping the match competitive.

Western opened the third set with a strong start, quickly taking a 2-0 lead with a kill by Posthumus and another by Hughes. Western regained control with a service ace from Savanna Haefs (Phoenix, AZ/Desert Vista High School), moving ahead 4-2.

Western extended their lead further with a series of opponent errors and effective blocks, including contributions from Brynlee Barris and Isabella Brewer, advancing the score to 9-3. A kill by Brewer increased the margin to 10-4, while Eastern struggled to close the gap, committing several errors.

Hughes played a pivotal role in maintaining Western's momentum, delivering multiple kills and capitalizing on opponent mistakes to push the lead to 20-10. Despite a brief resurgence by Eastern, Western held their ground, with Hughes and Salgado delivering the final points to close the set at 25-16. This performance secured the set for Western, highlighting their strong offensive execution.

Western started the fourth set with a steady rotation, as Posthumus secured an early point with a kill from Haggard. The home side responded to Eastern's early points by tying the score at 4-4 with a block from Barris on an attack error by Valdez. Despite a few setbacks, Western gained momentum with key contributions from Salgado and Meeks, building a slim lead.

As the set progressed, Western extended their lead through a combination of effective blocks and service aces by Haefs. A series of errors from Eastern further allowed Western to widen the margin, with notable kills from Hughes and Barris. The home team capitalized on these opportunities, pushing the score to 20-12.

Western maintained their advantage by closing the set with decisive plays, including a kill from Jade Rampton (Nelson, New Zealand/Shanghai American School) and another from Posthumus, assisted by Haefs. The set concluded with a 25-16 victory for Western, effectively sealing the match.

Daphne Posthumus (Lelystad, Netherlands/CCNV Harderwijk (Netherlands)) led the team with 17 kills, contributing 19.0 points and adding three total blocks across four games. Hannah Haggard (Tucson, AZ/Tanque Verde High School) was effective in setting, recording 23 assists and two service aces over four games. Brynlee Barris excelled defensively, posting a team-high of five total blocks and adding six kills. Savanna Haefs (Phoenix, AZ/Desert Vista High School) was a standout from the service line, delivering four aces without a service error in four games.

Valdez led Eastern with 25.0 points, achieving 24 kills on 42 attempts for a .381 hitting percentage across four matches. Catalina Gutierrez was pivotal in setting with 24 assists in her four appearances. Jayla Yoder contributed with 14 assists and added a team-high three service aces. Addison Bartlett added dual threat capabilities with six kills and 11 digs, while also serving two aces. Aaliyah Butler provided defensive support with two total blocks and four kills in her three games.

Western holds a 9-10 overall record. Eastern has a 4-15 overall record.

The next challenge for Western will be hosting Cameron on October 23 at Drag's Court in Silver City, N.M. The match is set to begin at 6 p.m.
 

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Western New Mexico University is a member of the NCAA Division II, and the Lone Star Conference (LSC). For additional information regarding Mustang Athletics, visit www.wnmumustangs.com; visit wnmu.edu for more information about Western New Mexico University. Follow the Mustangs on social media: @WNMUathletics (X, TikTok & Instagram).