Athletic Report
November 8, 2001

ENMU WINS THREE CLOSE GAMES TO DEFEAT TAMU-COMMERCE 3-1 AT LSC TOURNAMENT
CANYON, TX — Eastern New Mexico University received 3 block assists from each of five players, and Texas A&M University-Commerce made 11 ball handling errors, as the Zias defeated the Lions, 3-1, in the first round of the Lone Star Conference Volleyball Tournament, Nov. 8 at the West Texas A&M University Fieldhouse.

ENMU won 32-30, 25-30, 32-30, 30-28. The Zias, who finished the regular season in second place in the LSC South, improved to 21-13 overall, while TAMU-Commerce, third in the LSC North, concluded its season at 21-13. With the victory, ENMU advanced into the LSC semifinals.

The Zias will take on the University of Central Oklahoma (26-7) on Friday, Nov. 9 at 4:00 p.m. (MST). UCO received a first round bye after winning the LSC North championship. The winner between ENMU and UCO will play for the LSC championship on Saturday, Nov. 10 at 6:00 p.m. (MST).

In other first round action, Abilene Christian University, which placed third in the LSC South, upset Cameron University, second in the LSC North, 3-0. The Wildcats won the match, 30-24, 30-28, 31-29. ACU, will take on LSC South champion and tournament host West Texas A&M University in the other semifinal on Friday, at 6:30 p.m. (MST).

Eastern New Mexico edged TAMU-Commerce in the first game, 32-30, behind 10 kills from junior middle blocker Christabell Mariner (Pago Pago, Amer. Samoa/Tafuna H.S.). Sophomore middle blocker Amy Wallace of TAMUC, who earned 12 kills in the first game, helped the Lions even up the match with a 30-25 victory in the second game.

Wallace led all players with 27 kills during the match. In the third game, ENMU broke a 30-30 tie and secured a 2-1 lead in the match with two consecutive points. Raina Pilon (Jr., MB, Eagan, MN/Pasco-Hernando C.C.) blasted a kill to give the Zias a 31-30 lead, then Wallace committed an attacking error, as ENMU won the game.

TAMUC took a 5-1 lead at the start of the fourth game, but the Zias stayed close to the Lions, and eventually tied the game, 26-26, on a service ace by Mariner. A kill by ENMU setter Margie Goble (So., San Antonio, TX/Holmes H.S.), plus a block by Pilon and Goble, helped Eastern take a 29-28 lead.

On the next rally, ENMU right-side hitter Courtney Wallenborn connected on a cross-court kill, as the Zias won the game, 30-28. The Zias totaled 2 block solos and 16 block assists during the match. Mariner, Pilon, Goble, Wallenborn and Shannyn De Arman (Jr., MB/OH, Chandler, AZ/Glendale C.C.) each registered 3 block assists.

Mariner and Pilon also recorded 1 block solo apiece. TAMUC earned just 1 block solo and 4 block assists. Mariner led the Zias with 20 kills, 9 digs and 2 service aces. Pilon added 14 kills and 7 digs, while Jessica Rowley (Sr., OH, Dallas, OR/Clackamas C.C.) provided 12 kills, a .265 hitting percentage and 11 digs.

De Arman supplied 9 kills, while Wallenborn achieved 7 kills and 10 digs. Goble contributed 49 assists for the Zias. She now has 1,277 assists for the season and 2,813 assists in two years at ENMU. She needs 92 assists to reach the ENMU career record of 2,905 set by Lindsey Davison in 1998 and 1999.

Against TAMUC, Goble also earned 7 kills on 12 total attacks (.583 hitting percentage) and recorded 11 digs. Wallace finished the match with a double-double for the Lions, as she supplemented her 27 kills with 10 digs.

Wallace also achieved a .333 hitting percentage on a match-high 60 attacks. Other top hitters for TAMU-Commerce were Christy Alvillar, with 17 kills, and Davina Goodman, with 11 kills. Goodman also hit .368, while Alvillar provided 14 digs. Setter Lauren Kitchens dished out 54 assists, while also recording 11 digs, 5 kills and 2 block assists.

The Zias enter the LSC semifinals with 21 victories in their last 27 matches. ENMU has reached the semifinals for the fourth consecutive season and the ninth time overall in 15 years under Head Coach Mike Maguire.