SAN ANTONIO, TX — Western New Mexico fell to St. Mary's (TX) in four sets on Thursday evening at Bill Greehey Arena, with scores of 21-25, 25-17, 20-25, and 22-25. Western New Mexico (12-16, 6-10 Lone Star) recorded 11 total blocks in the match.

The first set opened with Western New Mexico quickly responding to St. Mary's early point, as Daphne Posthumus (Lelystad, Netherlands/CCNV Harderwijk (Netherlands)) executed a kill to tie the score at 1-1. Despite a strong effort, Western New Mexico faced challenges with service and attack errors, allowing St. Mary's to build a lead. However, Western New Mexico mounted a notable comeback, reducing the deficit to 9-9 with kills from Brynlee Barris, Jade Rampton (Nelson, New Zealand/Shanghai American School), and Kaitlyn Salgado, all assisted by Savanna Haefs (Phoenix, AZ/Desert Vista High School). Western New Mexico continued to push, with Jayden Hughes (High Rolls, NM/Cloudcroft High School) contributing crucial points to keep the scoreline tight. Despite their resilience, Western New Mexico concluded the set trailing by four, with a final score of 25-21 in favor of St. Mary's.

Western New Mexico seized control early in the second set with a critical block by Jayden Hughes (High Rolls, NM/Cloudcroft High School) and Barris, followed by a kill from Hughes assisted by Savanna Haefs (Phoenix, AZ/Desert Vista High School), setting the tone for a strong performance. Western New Mexico continued to build momentum with key contributions from Hughes and Barris, extending their advantage with a service ace from Hughes and a series of kills. St. Mary's attempted to rally, narrowing the gap to 19-14, but Western New Mexico responded effectively with consistent offensive pressure. Hughes, with a decisive kill assisted by Kiara McDuffie (Aubrey, TX/Braswell High School), secured the set for Western New Mexico with a final score of 25-17.

Western New Mexico began the third set with a service ace from Jayla McDuffie, but St. Mary's quickly equalized. Despite an early kill from Ava Frezza, Western New Mexico found themselves trailing as St. Mary's capitalized on several attack errors. Midway through the set, Western New Mexico gained momentum with a service ace by Barris, followed by kills from Posthumus and Hughes, narrowing the gap to 12-16. A late push, highlighted by a kill from Barris and a service ace by Hughes, brought Western New Mexico closer, but St. Mary's sealed the set at 25-20. This concluded the match with St. Mary's securing the victory.

Western New Mexico initiated the fourth set with a strong run, propelled by key plays from Posthumus and Hughes. Kiara McDuffie (Aubrey, TX/Braswell High School) facilitated multiple scoring opportunities, including a crucial block that contributed to a 10-8 lead. Despite Western New Mexico's efforts and a service ace by Barris, St. Mary's managed to regroup and counter with a series of successful plays, maintaining a tight contest. In the latter portion of the set, Western New Mexico briefly regained momentum with points from Salgado and a block by Salgado and Posthumus, narrowing the gap to 24-22. Nevertheless, St. Mary's secured the final point, ending the set at 25-22. This concluded the match with St. Mary's victorious, as there were no additional sets following this one.

Western New Mexico started the first set with momentum, but St. Mary's quickly took control with a decisive 5-0 run, including a kill by Laurene Robinson and a service ace from Alyssa Koehl, to lead 6-1. Western New Mexico responded with a series of kills by Hughes, closing the gap to 8-6. However, St. Mary's extended their lead to 18-14, capitalizing on multiple attack errors from Western New Mexico. Despite a late push from Western New Mexico, including a kill by Barris and an attack block by Posthumus, St. Mary's secured the set at 25-21 with a final kill by Landry Cate.

Western New Mexico secured a commanding 25-17 victory in the second set against St. Mary's, supported by a strong performance from Hughes. Hughes contributed multiple crucial plays, including a service ace at 6-3 and a decisive kill to close the set at 25-17. Barris added to the momentum with significant blocks and kills, while Haefs consistently set up successful attacks, assisting on several key points throughout the set. Despite St. Mary's efforts, including service aces and kills from Dallasstar Johnson and Landri Withers, Western New Mexico's effective blocking and diverse offensive strategy propelled them to take the set.

St. Mary's used a strong performance in the third set to secure a 25-20 victory over Western New Mexico. Despite an early service ace by McDuffie, St. Mary's responded with consistent scoring, highlighted by Taylor Alston's powerful attacks, contributing to a 9-4 lead. The home team extended their advantage with a series of successful plays, including a service ace from Kaylee Cavazos, pushing the score to 11-4. Western New Mexico attempted a comeback with kills from Barris and Hughes, narrowing the gap to 20-17. However, St. Mary's maintained their momentum, with Cate sealing the set with a decisive kill.

In the fourth set, St. Mary's and Western New Mexico exchanged early leads, with Alston securing the initial point for the home team. Western New Mexico responded with a series of attacks, including kills by Posthumus and Hughes, bringing the score to 3-1 in their favor. The teams traded momentum throughout the set, with Robinson and Johnson contributing key points for St. Mary's to keep the score close. Late in the set, St. Mary's capitalized on Western New Mexico's errors and a service ace by Wilk to extend their advantage to 23-19. Despite a brief comeback attempt by Western New Mexico, the set concluded with Alston's decisive kill, giving St. Mary's a 25-22 victory.

Hughes led the offensive charge with 16 kills, contributing significantly to the team's performance. Mikelle McAfee (Casa Grande, AZ) and Kiara McDuffie (Aubrey, TX/Braswell High School) anchored the defense, each recording 18 digs to keep rallies alive. Barris added 10 kills and dominated at the net with six blocks, while Posthumus recorded eight kills and four blocks.

Koehl was a defensive standout for St. Mary's, contributing 29 digs over four games, a category in which she led the team. Wilk played a critical role in setting up plays, amassing 36 assists, providing crucial support in the team's offensive efforts. Robinson and Alston were key attackers, both recording 14 kills, while Robinson led the team in points with 15.0, closely followed by Alston's 15.5 points. Johnson maintained a high hitting percentage, achieving a .533 mark with eight kills and two block assists, adding depth to the team's performance.

Western New Mexico holds a 12-16 overall record and is 6-10 in Lone Star Conference play. St. Mary's stands at 14-12 overall with an 11-5 record in Lone Star Conference competition.

Looking ahead, Western New Mexico will face St. Edward's on Saturday, Nov. 15, at 1 p.m. at the Recreation and Athletics Center in Austin, Texas.
 

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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).