Athletic Report
October 12, 1998

VOLLEYBALL (16-7, 5-1 LSC)
The ENMU volleyball team played several strong teams during 5 matches this past week. The Zias earned a 3-2 record, losing only to defending NCAA Division II national champion West Texas A&M and to NAIA power St. Edwards.

At the conclusion of the week, ENMU was 16-7 overall and 5-1 in the Lone Star Conference. Eastern has won 16 of its last 19 matches.

Eastern began the week on Tues., Oct. 6 with an important Lone Star Conference match at West Texas A&M. The Lady Buffs, led by All-America hitter Sarah Butler, defeated the Zias in 3 games, ending ENMU’s winning streak at 12 matches. Game scores were 15-5, 15-11, 15-10.

After losing the first game, the Zias built a 7-3 lead in the second game. West Texas rallied for leads of 10-9 and 12-10 before closing out the game. In the third game, Eastern rallied from a 7-2 deficit to take a 10-9 lead, but WTAMU scored the next 6 points.

Butler led West Texas with 17 kills. Holly Morgan had 14 kills and 9 digs, while Jennifer Robinson added 13 kills for the Lady Buffs.

For Eastern, right side hitter Heather DesMarais (Jr., Yakima, WA/Columbia Basin College) and middle blocker Rachael Grant (Jr., Wenatchee, WA/ Columbia Basin) each recorded 10 kills. Setter Lindsey Davison (Jr., Kelso, WA/Columbia Basin) supplied 32 assists and 10 digs. Middle blocker Maricela Santos (Jr., Laredo, TX/Laredo C.C.) had 7 kills and 5 blocks.

The remaining 4 games on Eastern’s schedule last week were played at the Texas Woman’s University Invitational. The Zias went 3-1 during the event, including 3-game sweeps of Southern Arkansas and tournament host TWU.

Eastern easily won both of its matches on Fri., Oct. 9. The Zias quickly dispatched Southern Arkansas, 15-8, 15-7, 15-5. Later, the Zias swept Texas Woman’s, 15-10, 15-8, 15-9.

Against Southern Arkansas, the Zias received 11 kills and 14 digs from junior outside hitter Irma Cobos (Kermit, TX/Kermit H.S.). Davison provided 40 assists, and Charlene Hunt (Sacramento, CA/Sacramento City College) led the Zias with 21 digs. DesMarais had 9 kills.

Cobos and DesMarais each totaled 7 kills in the match versus Texas Woman’s. Hunt connected for 5 kills, a .308 attack percentage and 9 digs. Grant had 5 kills and 10 digs. On Sat., Oct. 10, St. Edwards edged the Zias, 15-10, 14-16, 15-13, 15-11. ENMU ended the tournament with a 15-12, 15-13, 6-15, 15-12 victory over Central Oklahoma.

In the match against St. Edwards, Cobos registered 19 kills and added 20 digs. Hunt produced 10 kills and 20 digs, while Davison contributed 54 assists. DesMarais had 13 kills and 6 total blocks.

Against Central Oklahoma, the Zias received 20 digs each from Cobos and Hunt for the second consecutive match. Grant led all ENMU hitters with 18 kills.

DAVISON CONTINUES TO PROVIDE ASSISTS
Eastern New Mexico junior setter Lindsey Davison (Kelso, WA/Columbia Basin College) has provided consistent setting. She entered the current week with 960 assists and had played in all 23 matches and all 83 games. She was averaging 11.6 assists per game.

Davison also ranked 3rd on the team with 246 digs for an average of 3.0 digs per game. She has been helpful at the net, totaling 7 block solos and 34 block assists.

RACHAEL GRANT LEADS ENMU HITTERS
Rachael Grant (Jr., MB, Wenatchee, WA/Columbia Basin College) has the top hitting percentage on the ENMU squad. She has 255 kills with 86 kill errors on 632 attacks. Her attack percentage is .267. Grant also leads the Zias with 3.1 kills per game. Heather DesMarais (Jr., RS, Yakima, WA/Columbia Basin) is close behind at .257 and 2.9 kills/game.

UP NEXT FOR THE ZIAS
Eastern New Mexico is scheduled to start a 5-match homestand on Tues., Oct. 13, when the Zias take on New Mexico Highlands at 7:00 p.m. (MST) at Greyhound Arena. The match was rescheduled from early in the season.

The Zias host LSC South Division foes Angelo State and Abilene Christian this coming weekend. ENMU plays Angelo State at 7:00 p.m. on Fri., Oct. 16, then takes on ACU at 2:00 p.m. on Sat., Oct. 17. The Zias are one game behind West Texas A&M for first place in the South Division.

ENMU’s homestand continues on Tue., Oct. 20 against West Texas A&M at 7:00 p.m. The homestand ends a week later (Oct. 27), when the Zias take on Wayland Baptist at 7:00 p.m.