Western New Mexico University Athletics

LAREDO, TX — Western NM defeated Tex. A&M Int'l 3-2 on Friday at TAMIU Kinesiology and Convocation Building. Western NM used a 9-0 run in the fifth set to help finish the match after splitting the first four sets.

Western NM built an 18-14 lead in the first set behind kills from Isabella Brewer and Daphne Posthumus (Lelystad, Netherlands/CCNV Harderwijk (Netherlands)), but Tex. A&M Int'l scored the next four points to tie it at 18-18. Mikelle McAfee's (Casa Grande, AZ/Casa Grande Union High School.) service ace later put Western NM back in front 22-21, and Brynlee Barris answered with a kill to make it 23-23. Tex. A&M Int'l took the final two points to win the set 25-23.

Western NM turned a 7-5 deficit into a 13-7 lead with an 8-0 run, including seven straight points on Savanna Haefs' (Phoenix, AZ/Desert Vista High School) serve. Jayden Hughes (High Rolls, NM/Cloudcroft High School) had a kill and joined Barris on two blocks during that stretch, and Hannah Haggard (Tucson, AZ/Tanque Verde High School) later served two aces as Western NM pushed the set to 20-11. Western NM finished off the set 25-16.

Western NM turned the third set around after falling behind 22-15, scoring the final 10 points to win 25-22. Jayla McDuffie served the last nine Western NM points, including a service ace that tied the set at 22-22, while Ava Frezza and Barris added kills during the run. Barris closed the set with back-to-back kills off Haefs assists.

Western NM rallied from 18-12 down in the fourth set, tying it on a Frezza kill and taking a 20-19 lead on a Jayla McDuffie service ace. Western NM later built a 24-20 lead with back-to-back Posthumus kills in the stretch, but Tex. A&M Int'l scored the next five points to move back in front. Western NM led again at 30-29 after consecutive Tex. A&M Int'l attack errors, before Tex. A&M Int'l scored the final three points to take the set 32-30.

Western NM erased a 5-3 deficit in the fifth set with a 9-0 run, including eight straight service points on Haggard's serve. Posthumus had three kills and shared three blocks during the surge, while Brewer and Jade Rampton (Nelson, New Zealand/Shanghai American School) added kills to push Western NM in front. Western NM closed the set at 15-9.

Posthumus led Western NM with 17 kills, 20.5 points and seven total blocks. Barris added 16 kills while hitting .577 and finished with 19 points and four total blocks. McAfee collected a team-high 30 digs and added two service aces. Haefs paced Western NM with 28 assists and added six digs.

Western New Mexico University is 8-6 overall and 2-1 in Lone Star play. 

Up next, Western New Mexico volleyball team travels to Kingsville, Texas, to face Texas A&M - Kingsville on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 11 a.m. MT at Gil E. Steinke Physical Education Center.