Athletic Report
September 8, 2001

ENMU DOWNS TARLETON STATE IN LSC OPENER
Zias are 8-7 Overall after 8th Consecutive Victory
PORTALES, NM — Christabell Mariner (Jr., MB, Pago Pago, Amer. Samoa/Tafuna H.S.) earned a match-high 18 kills, leading Eastern New Mexico University to a 30-28, 30-25, 30-22 victory over visiting Tarleton State University, Sept. 21 at Greyhound Arena. It was the first Lone Star Conference match of the season for ENMU, which improved to 8-7 overall, 1-0 in the LSC South. Tarleton State dropped to 3-9 overall, 1-2 in the LSC South.

Mariner recorded a .364 hitting percentage against the TexAnns. She also provided 1 service ace, 3 digs and 3 block assists. She hit just .167 during the first two games of the match, but exploded in the third game for 8 kills and no attacking errors on 9 total attacks (.889). By the end of the match, Mariner had increased her team-leading attack percentage to .320 for the season. She also increased her kill average to 4.73 kills per game.

The Zias also received double-digit kill totals from Jessica Rowley (Sr., OH, Dallas, OR/ Clackamas C.C.) and Courtney Wallenborn (Jr., RS, Camas, WA/Mt. Hood C.C.). Rowley concluded the match with 11 kills and 4 digs. Wallenborn connected for 10 kills, earned a .421 hitting percentage, and added 3 service aces and 4 digs. Setter Margie Goble (So., San Antonio, TX/ Holmes H.S.) supplied 40 assists to go with 8 digs and 2 total blocks.

TSU led early in the first game, 5-4, but later trailed 16-8 following a kill by Rowley. The TexAnns answered by scoring the next 5 points, and eventually tied the Zias, 28-28. Eastern won the game by scoring the next two points, on a TSU serving error, plus a kill error by TSU outside hitter Sheniqua Browder.

Tarleton State led 10-7 in the second game, but Eastern rallied for an 11-10 lead. TSU countered with 4 consecutive points for a 14-11 advantage, and remained in front until the Zias tied the game 21-21. The TexAnns led 22-21, and 23-22, but ENMU ran off 5 straight points for a 27-23 lead.

Mariner earned two kills and a block assist during the run. The Zias went on to win the game, 30-25, with Raina Pilon (Jr., MB, Eagan, MN/Pasco-Hernando C.C.) supplying the final point on a solo block. Eastern zoomed out to a 7-1 lead and never trailed in the third game. TSU pulled as close as two points at 17-15, only to watch the Zias score 5 of the next 6 points for a 22-16 advantage.

Six of Eastern’s final 8 points came on kills, including two by Mariner. The other points came from a 4-hit possession by Tarleton State and match-ending block assists from Mariner and Jamie Wise (Fr., OH, Abilene, TX/Abilene H.S.)

Tarleton State was led by Browder, who produced 7 kills and 14 digs, and by Brenda Best, who earned 8 kills and 6 digs. Mendi Matus added 10 kills and a .333 hitting percentage, while Brooke McDowell dished out 28 assists. The TexAnns registered a .192 hitting percentage during the match, while the Zias achieved a .286 hitting percentage.

The Zias complete their 5-match homestand tomorrow (Sat., Sept. 22) against Texas A&M- Kingsville in another LSC South match. The action gets underway at 2:00 p.m. (MST) at Greyhound Arena.