Athletic Report
October 20, 2000

ZIAS DEFEAT CAMERON, FALL TO ST. MARY’S AT LADY BUFF SW REGION CHALLENGE
CANYON, TX — The Eastern New Mexico University volleyball team defeated Lone Star Conference rival Cameron University, 3-2, and lost to non-conference foe St. Mary’s (Texas), 3-0, on the first day of the Lady Buff Southwest Region Challenge at West Texas A&M University, on Friday, Oct. 20. The Zias downed Cameron, 5-15, 15-6, 12-15, 16-14, 15-11, and St. Mary’s defeated ENMU, 15-10, 15-12, 15-13. ENMU ended the day with a 21-9 overall record. Cameron was 18-9 after playing the Zias, while St. Mary’s improved to 24-4.

Cameron dominated the early play in its match with ENMU. The Lady Aggies led 13-0 in the opening game, on their way to a 15-5 triumph. The Zias answered with a relatively easy 15-6 victory in Game #2.

The teams also split the third and fourth games. Cameron won Game #3, then ENMU staved off defeat by winning Game #4, 16-14. Both teams hit well in the third game, as Cameron recorded a .255 hitting percentage and ENMU earned a .259 hitting percentage. The Zias hit .238 in the fourth game, while limiting Cameron to a .184 percentage.

Eastern New Mexico controlled the fifth game by hitting .341 and achieving 10 kills. On defense, the Zias held Cameron to just 5 kills and a .008 hitting percentage. ENMU won the game, 15-11, to close out the match. It was Eastern’s first victory over Cameron since Oct. 1, 1994.

Jessica Rowley (Jr., OH, Dallas, OR/Clackamas C.C.) led the Zias with 21 kills. She also recorded 7 digs, and achieved a .309 hitting percentage. Christabell Mariner (So., MB, Pago Pago, Amer. Samoa/Tafuna H.S.) added 19 kills, 18 digs, 8 total blocks and a .283 hitting percentage. Tanya Heyko (Sr., OH, Salem, OR/Chemeketa C.C.) also earned 18 digs for ENMU, while providing 10 kills. Setter Margie Goble (Fr., San Antonio, TX/Holmes H.S.) contributed 49 assists, 12 digs, 5 kills and 4 block assists.

Cameron’s top players were Christie Grayson and Megan Carter with 19 kills apiece. Grayson also earned 20 digs, helping the Lady Aggies total 102 digs for the match. Other top defensive players for CU were Lora Spencer, with 26 digs, Gretchen McGeough, with 21 digs and Brennon Molberg, with 12 digs. Megan Smith provided 47 assists and 11 digs.

The match with Cameron did not count in the LSC standings. Cameron leads the LSC North Division, while ENMU is currently second in the LSC South Division. ENMU will conclude the Lady Buff Challenge on Saturday, Oct. 21, against LSC North Division opponent Central Oklahoma. Match time is set for 4:00 p.m. (MDT).

ENMU played St. Mary’s soon after completing the match with Cameron. The Lady Rattlers were able to sweep the tired Zias in three games, while limiting ENMU to a .115 hitting percentage.

St. Mary’s hit just .126 for the match, and had three fewer kills than ENMU (42-39), but the Zias had just 2 service aces and committed 7 serving errors. St. Mary’s received 12 kills, 7 digs and 5 total digs from Leslie Arnold. Jennifer Cabanilla contributed 9 kills and 11 digs. Kristelle Rodriguez earned 26 assists and 8 digs.

Mariner led the Zias with 13 kills, 10 digs and 5 blocks. She hit .348 during the match. Heyko chipped in 12 kills and 9 digs, while Rowley earned 9 kills and 11 digs. Both teams performed well at the net, with ENMU earning 5 solo blocks and 18 block assists, and St. Mary’s recording 2 solo blocks and 22 block assists.