Athletic Report
August 26, 2000

ZIAS FALL TO REGIS AND INCARNATE WORD AT LADY BUFF CLASSIC
CANYON, TX — The Zias of Eastern New Mexico University lost two tough matches at the Lady Buff Classic on Saturday, Aug. 26, falling to Regis University, 3-1, and to the University of the Incarnate Word, 3-2.

In first match, Regis won 2-15, 17-15, 15-7, 15-0. In the second match, Incarnate Word won 15-10, 14-16, 15-12, 6-15, 20-18. The defeats left the Zias with a final record of 2-2 in the season-opening tournament hosted by West Texas A&M.

ENMU dominated the first game against Regis, earning a .400 hitting percentage and limiting the Rangers to a .037 hitting percentage. Regis overcame the 15-2 loss to edge the Zias, 17-15, in the second game. After seizing momentum in Game 2, the Rangers closed out the match with wins in the next two games.

Amie Schraeder led the Rangers with 19 kills and 14 digs, while Ginger Craig added 18 kills and 8 digs. Regis improved to 3-0 on the season.

Senior outside hitter Tanya Heyko (Salem, OR/Chemeketa C.C.) was Eastern’s top player against Regis. She provided 22 kills, earned a .362 attack percentage and tied for the team lead with 13 digs. Christabell Mariner (So., MB, Pago Pago, Amer. Samoa/Tafuna H.S.) added 11 kills and 9 digs. Junior transfer Jessica Rowley (OH, Dallas, OR/Clackamas C.C.) contributed 10 kills and 13 digs, while Dee Goble (Jr., MB, San Antonio, TX/Central Oklahoma) registered 8 kills with only 1 attacking error (.467).

Both teams committed 15 serving errors during the match. However, Regis almost offset the errors with 13 service aces, while the Zias were credited with just 5 aces.

Against Incarnate Word, the Zias trailed by one game on two occasions only to force a rally-scored fifth game to decide the match. The Crusaders began the match with a 15-10 win — it was the first time this season that an opponent scored more than 4 points on the Zias in an opening game.

ENMU rallied with a 16-14 triumph in the second game, but UIW moved back in front with a 15-12 win in the third game. The Zias won the fourth game, 15-6, to force the decisive rally-scored game. The fifth game was a close contest, but the Zias had two chances to win while serving, but served long, missing their final two serves of the match. The Crusaders staved off the match points and went on to edge the Zias, 20-18.

ENMU was led by Mariner with 21 kills and a .318 attack percentage. Heyko earned 20 kills and 15 digs. Rowley supplied 15 kills and 18 digs. Statistics for Incarnate Word were not available.

The Crusaders improved to 2-2. Eastern’s freshman setter, Margie Goble (San Antonio, TX/Holmes H.S.) provided the Zias with 48 assists, 8 digs and 6 kills against Regis. She added 54 assists, 12 digs and 3 kills versus Incarnate Word.

The Zias travel to Lubbock Christian University on Tuesday, Aug. 29, to take on the Lady Chaps at 6:00 p.m. (MST). ENMU opens its home schedule on Friday, Sept. 1 and Saturday, Sept. 2 with the Torneo de Amigas. Joining the Zias in the tournament will be Colorado School of Mines, Fort Lewis College, Fort Hays State University and Western New Mexico University.