Western New Mexico University Athletics

PORTALES, NM — Western New Mexico defeated Eastern N.M. 3-1 on Saturday. Western New Mexico dropped the opening set 18-25 before taking the next three 25-23, 25-20, 25-15.

Western New Mexico hit .158 while holding Eastern N.M. to .075, finishing with 44 kills and 23 attack errors compared with Eastern N.M.'s 41 kills and 31 errors. Western New Mexico also held an 11-7 edge in total blocks, with Daphne Posthumus (Lelystad, Netherlands/CCNV Harderwijk (Netherlands)) finishing with nine total blocks, and added scoring bursts by winning seven of eight rallies twice, including a 6-0 run.

Western New Mexico fell behind in the opening set when Eastern N.M. scored five straight points to make it 10-3. The Mustangs answered with stretches that included a Jade Rampton (Nelson, New Zealand/Shanghai American School)-Jayden Hughes (High Rolls, NM/Cloudcroft High School) block, a Jayla McDuffie service ace and late kills from McKenna Alvarez-Mittelsted (Katy, TX/Cinco Ranch HS) and Rampton, but Eastern N.M. closed out the set 25-18.

Western New Mexico broke open the second set after a 7-7 tie, winning seven of the next eight rallies to move ahead 14-8. Eastern N.M. later cut Western New Mexico's 24-19 lead to 24-23, but Posthumus finished the set with a kill from Savanna Haefs (Phoenix, AZ/Desert Vista High School) for a 25-23 win.

Western New Mexico created separation in the third set with four straight points on Jayla McDuffie's serve, moving from 14-11 to 18-11 behind kills from Posthumus, Hailey Meeks and Alvarez-Mittelsted. Eastern N.M. pulled within 22-20, but Western New Mexico answered with the final three points, closing the set on a block by Posthumus and Hughes and a Posthumus kill from Haefs for a 25-20 set win.

Western New Mexico took control of the fourth set with a six-point run from a 3-3 tie to a 9-3 lead during Hannah Haggard's (Tucson, AZ/Tanque Verde High School) service rotation, getting a Meeks kill, two blocks involving Posthumus and Meeks, and a service ace. Eastern N.M. answered to get within 9-7, but Western New Mexico responded with another Meeks kill and consecutive Jayla McDuffie aces to rebuild the cushion. Western New Mexico kept adding points through Isabella Brewer, Jalissa Costa (Huntington Beach, CA/Marina High School) and Hughes before finishing the set 25-15.

Head Coach Geno Frugoli praised the team's effort to battle back after dropping the first set and secure the road victory. "Great effort to win the match on the road after losing set one. It's always exciting when you are battling Eastern," Frugoli said. 

Posthumus posted nine total blocks, including two solo, and added seven kills for 13.5 points. Hughes recorded nine kills while hitting .348, with six digs and three block assists. Hannah Haggard (Tucson, AZ/Tanque Verde High School) finished with 17 assists, four service aces and 10 digs. Briseis Armendariz (El Paso, TX/Del Valle HS) collected 12 digs.

Western New Mexico is 12-8 overall and 6-3 in Lone Star play. 

Up next, Western New Mexico volleyball team visits Cameron University on Friday, Oct. 16, at 5 p.m. at Aggie Gym in Lawton, Oklahoma.