Athletic Report
October 20, 2001

ZIAS SWEEP MIDWESTERN, EDGE ST. MARY’S AT WEST TEXAS A&M SOUTHWEST CHALLENGE
CANYON, TX — The Eastern New Mexico University Zias improved to 15-12 on the season by defeating Midwestern State University, 3-0, and slipping past St. Mary’s University 3-2, at the West Texas A&M University Southwest Region Challenge, Oct. 20 in Canyon, Texas.

ENMU finished the two-day event with a 2-1 record. The Zias quickly won the first game against Midwestern State, then coasted to a 30-14, 30-28, 30-24 victory. ENMU fell behind St. Mary’s after the opening game, but won the next two games, and the fifth game, for a 25-30, 30-26, 30-27, 30-32, 15-12 triumph.

The Zias have won 15 of their last 20 matches, and are three games above .500 for the first time this season. Junior middle blocker Christabell Mariner (Pago Pago, Amer. Samoa/Tafuna H.S.) was the top player for the Zias in both matches.

Against MSU, she earned 18 kills and 9 digs, to go with a .536 hitting percentage. She also recorded a team-high 3 service aces and tied for the team lead with 4 total blocks. In the match against St. Mary’s, she led all players with 25 kills and 16 digs, while achieving .326 attack percentage.Mariner also provided 3 blocks against the Rattlers.

Raina Pilon (Jr., MB, Eagan, MN/Pasco-Hernando C.C.) and Jessica Rowley (Jr., OH, Dallas, OR/Clackamas C.C.) each connected for 10 kills in the match with Midwestern State. Pilon added 5 digs and 4 blocks. Rowley committed just 2 hitting errors on 22 total attacks, and finished the match with a .364 hitting percentage. She also registered 6 digs for the Zias.

Setter Margie Goble (So., San Antonio, TX/Holmes H.S.) was credited with 39 assists and 4 digs. Courtney Wallenborn (Jr., RS, Camas, WA/Mt. Hood C.C.) supplied 9 kills. Eastern claimed a .336 team hitting percentage and limited Midwestern to a .129 hitting percentage.

The Indians were led by Joni Martin, who earned 10 kills and 7 digs. Heather Young and Erin Adkins each contributed 7 kills. Sydney Haisler achieved 30 assists, and Brandi Robberson added 5 kills, 9 digs and 3 service aces for MSU. Against St. Mary’s, Mariner was joined by two other Zias in double figures for kills.

Rowley recorded her highest total of the season with 21 kills, and also finished with a .304 hitting percentage and 10 digs. Pilon pounded out 15 kills. Wallenborn and Shannyn De Arman (Jr., MB/OH, Chandler, AZ/Glendale C.C.) just missed double digits with 9 kills apiece.

Wallenborn and Goble each added 13 digs for the Zias. Goble also recorded 66 assists and 3 service aces.Nikki Tilton (Sr., DS/S, Milwaukie, OR/Alabama A&M) totaled 9 digs on the back row. ENMU achieved a .233 team hitting percentage.

SMU hit .243 for the match. St. Mary’s received 18 kills and 7 digs from Breann Alexander. Misti Fischnar earned 16 kills and Erika Bolk hit for 15 kills. Bolk and Renee Forti contributed 11 digs apiece, while Kristelle Rodriguez produced 50 assists and 7 digs.

The Zias return to action on Tuesday, Oct. 20, when they host West Texas A&M in a Lone Star Conference South Division match. Start time at Greyhound Arena is set for 7:00 p.m. (MDT). WTAMU is ranked #1 nationally in NCAA Division II with a 22-2 overall record and a 5-0 mark in the LSC South.

ENMU is currently third in the LSC South at 3-2. The Lady Buffs defeated the Zias, 30-26, 30-24, 30-24, Oct. 9 at WTAMU. All three games were highly-contested, with both teams hitting well over .300 for the match.