Athletic Report
September 28, 2000

EASTERN NEW MEXICO RALLIES PAST TARLETON STATE IN FIVE GAMES
STEPHENVILLE, TX — Eastern New Mexico University rallied from a 2-1 deficit to defeat Tarleton State University, 3-2, in a Lone Star Conference South Division match, Sept. 28, at Wisdom Gym on the TSU campus. The Zias battled back for a 10-15, 15-8, 10-15, 15-6, 15-13 triumph that improved their overall record to 16-4, including 2-1 in the LSC South. Tarleton State fell to 3-17 on the season, 0-3 in the LSC South.

ENMU finished the match with a .159 hitting percentage, well below the team’s season average of .239. Even so, the Zias were able to rally, and recorded their best single-game hitting percentage of the night (.273) in the fifth and deciding game.

In the process, ENMU Head Coach Mike Maguire recorded his 300th career victory. Maguire, in his 14th season at Eastern, previously coached one season at Chadron State College in Nebraska. The win over TSU upped Maguire’s overall record to 300-181 (.624), including 285-166 (.632) at ENMU.

Sophomore middle blocker Christabell Mariner (Pago Pago, Amer. Samoa/Tafuna H.S.) avoided Eastern’s offensive slump, finishing the match with 21 kills and a .375 hitting percentage. Mariner also earned 10 digs, 6 block assists and 2 serving aces.

Tanya Heyko (Sr., OH, Salem, OR/Chemeketa C.C.) added 15 kills and 10 digs. Jessica Rowley (Jr., OH, Dallas, OR/Clackamas C.C.) provided 12 kills, 9 digs and 7 block assists. Freshman setter Margie Goble (San Antonio, TX/Holmes H.S.) recorded 47 assists. She also contributed 11 digs and 6 service aces.

Tarleton State took an early lead in the match, winning the first game, 15-10. After ENMU evened the match with a 15-8 victory in the second game, Tarleton moved back in front with another 15-10 win. The TexAnns achieved a .207 hitting percentage in the first game, then hit .324 in Game #3, to claim the 2-1 lead.

The TexAnns struggled in the fourth game, hitting negative .125 with just 6 kills and 10 attacking errors. In the rally-scored fifth game, TSU was held to a .176 hitting percentage, and could not overcome Eastern’s revitalized attack.

Amanda Wallace was Tarleton State’s top player, with 14 kills, a .294 hitting percentage and 9 digs. Kasey Vogelsberg produced 15 digs, while Mary Domine supplied 36 assists, 12 digs, 4 total blocks and 3 service aces.

The Zias will complete their two-match road trip on Saturday, Sept. 30, when they play Texas A&M-Kingsville in another LSC South Division match at 12:00 p.m. (MDT). The Zias return home to host #4-ranked West Texas A&M University in LSC action on Tuesday, Oct. 3 at 7:00 p.m. (MDT).

Last year, ENMU drew a school record 1,703 fans for its home match against WTAMU. The Zias hope for an even larger crowd for next week’s home match at Greyhound Arena against the defending LSC champions.