Athletic Report
November 5, 2001

ZIAS WILL TAKE ON TAMU-COMMERCE IN FIRST ROUND OF LSC TOURNAMENT
PORTALES, NM — The Eastern New Mexico University volleyball team, which ended the regular season 20-13 overall and took second place in the Lone Star Conference South Division at 7-3, has qualified for the LSC Tournament for the tenth time since 1991.

ENMU and five other teams will battle for the LSC title Nov. 8-10 in the WTAMU Fieldhouse at West Texas A&M University, in Canyon, Texas. The Zias will open the tournament against Texas A&M-Commerce, which finished 21-12 overall and took third in the LSC North at 7-3.

West Texas A&M earned the right to host the LSC Tournament by winning the South Division title. Last year, the tournament was held at Cameron University, which won the North Division title. This year’s tournament starts on Thursday, Nov. 8.

WTAMU (27-2, 10-0 LSC South) and North Division champion the University of Central Oklahoma (26-7, 9-1 LSC North) receive first round byes. Cameron (22-6, 8-2 LSC South), which finished second in the North Division this season, will open the tournament by taking on Abilene Christian University (18-13, 6-4 LSC South) at 4:00 p.m. (MST). Eastern New Mexico will play TAMU-Commerce at 6:30 p.m. (MST).

The LSC Tournament semifinals are set for Friday, Nov. 9. The winner of the ENMU vs. TAMU-Commerce match will take on Central Oklahoma at 4:00 p.m. (MST). WTAMU will play the winner of the Cameron vs. Abilene Christian match at 6:30 p.m. The 2001 LSC Championship match is set for Saturday, Nov. 10 at 6:00 p.m. (MST).

The LSC Tournament champion receives the conference’s automatic bid into the expanded 48-team NCAA Division II National Tournament bracket. Six teams will qualify or be selected for each of 8 regional tournaments. Regionals will be held between Nov. 15 and Nov. 18, with the Elite Eight set for Nov. 29-Dec. 1 on the campus of a competing team.

Eastern New Mexico rallied from a 0-7 start to the season, to record the Zias’ 13th straight winning season. The Zias finished the regular season with a 20-6 record in their final 26 games. Head Coach Mike Maguire, in his 15th season at ENMU, improved to 315-186 (.629) at Eastern.

The Zias have been led by Christabell Mariner (Sr., MB, Pago Pago, Amer. Samoa/Tafuna H.S.), who was a First Team All-LSC South selection a year ago. Mariner has recorded 520 kills this season, and is averaging 4.9 kills per game. She leads the Zias with a .323 hitting percentage, and tops the squad with 137 blocks (1.28 avg.). She has earned 310 digs (2.9 avg.). Mariner ranks 3rd all-time at ENMU with 1,182 career kills.

Senior outside hitter Jessica Rowley (Dallas, OR/Clackamas C.C.) leads the Zias with 340 digs (2.9 avg.) and ranks second on the team with 343 kills (3.0 avg.). Junior middle blocker Raina Pilon (Eagan, MN/Pasco-Hernando C.C.) has provided 287 kills (2.5 avg.), 300 digs (2.6 avg.) and 104 blocks (0.9 avg.).Right-side hitter Courtney Wallenborn (Jr., Camas, WA/Mt. Hood C.C.) has recorded 280 kills (2.4 avg.) and 298 digs (2.6 avg.).

Sophomore setter Margie Goble (San Antonio, TX/Holmes H.S.) has supplied the Zias with 1,228 assists this season, an average of 11.4 assists per game. She set an ENMU single season record last year with 1,536 assists. Goble has 2,764 assists in two seasons at ENMU, and needs just 141 assists to reach the school record for career assists (2,905), set by Lindsey Davison from 1998 through 1999.

ENMU and TAMU-Commerce did not meet during the regular season. The Lions are led Amy Wallace, a sophomore transfer middle blocker from Baylor University. Wallace has achieved 522 kills (5.1 avg.) with a .428 hitting percentage. She also has provided 100 blocks (1.0 avg.).

Christy Alvillar, a junior outside hitter, has added 346 kills (3.0 avg.) and 414 digs (3.5 avg.), while Davina Goodman, a sophomore middle blocker, has supplied 215 kills (2.3 avg.). Sara Wedberg, a junior outside hitter, has recorded 206 kills (2.6 avg.) and 276 digs (3.5 avg.), while playing in 78 of 123 games. Setter Lauren Kitchens, a junior, has achieved 1,490 assists, an average of 12.4 assists per game.

ENMU won the LSC Tournament title in 1993 after wining the regular season championship that same year. West Texas A&M is the defending LSC Champion, after defeating Cameron, 3-1, in the finals last season.