Lubbock Christian Defeats ENMU, 3-1
Chaparrals, Ranked #5 in NAIA, Improve to 23-1

LUBBOCK, TX – Eastern New Mexico University recorded 15 more kills than the Chaparrals of Lubbock Christian, but the Zias also made 13 more attacking errors, helping LCU defeat the Zias in four games, 30-27, 15-30, 30-21, 30-21, at the Rip Griffin Center, Oct. 8 in Lubbock, Texas. With the win, Lubbock Christian, ranked #5 in the NAIA, improved to 23-1 on the season. Eastern fell to 16-6 with the loss.

LCU overcame deficits of 8-3 and 14-9 to win the first game and take an early lead in the match. The Chaparrals tied the game at 15-15 and led 21-19. After the Zias won the next rally to pull within a single point at 21-20, the Chaps ran off six unanswered points for a 27-20 lead.

The Zias eventually cut the deficit to 28-27 on a kill by Raina Pilon (Sr., MB, Eagan, MN/Pasco-Hernando CC) to complete a 7-1 run. The run started with five straight points for ENMU. Pilon had three kills during the run, but the Chaps closed out the game with a kill and a block.

Eastern dominated most of the second game. The teams were tied 4-4 before ENMU went on an 8-3 run for a 12-7 lead. The Zias put together another run, this time 6-2, to take a 17-9 advantage. LCU scored two of the next three points, leaving Eastern with an 18-11 lead.

The Zias cemented the game by winning eight consecutive rallies for a 26-11 margin. Eastern eventually won the game, 30-15, with Christabell Mariner (Sr., MB/OH, Pago Pago, Amer. Samoa/Tafuna HS) recording six kills and Anya Mack (Jr., OH/RS, Cope, CO/Sheridan JC) adding five kills. Mariner led all players with 23 kills during the match.
In the second game, ENMU achieved 20 kills and hit .385. In the third game, the Zias slipped to a .045 hitting percentage with 13 kills and 11 attacking errors. Eastern also committed one serving error and one ball-handling error, as the Chaparrals received 13 points from ENMU errors in the third game. LCU won the game, 30-21, for a 2-1 lead in the match.

Lubbock Christian trailed 3-1 at the start of the fourth game, but went on a 6-2 run for a 7-5 lead. The game was tied at 9-9, before LCU built leads to 13-9 and 14-10. The Zias made it 14-11 on a kill Mariner, but the Chaps scored the next five points for a 19-11 lead.

Eastern never overcame the eight-point deficit, only getting as close at six points at 23-17.
The Chaparrals went on to win the game, 30-21, to conclude the match in four games. LCU remained with just one loss on the season. The Chaps have won 23 consecutive matches since losing to Houston Baptist University, 30-25, 30-17, 30-16 in the season opener.

Against ENMU, the Chaps received 17 kills and eight digs from Julie Williams, who finished the match with a .433 hitting percentage. Stacy Simpson provided 15 kills, 11 digs and five total blocks, while Beth Ratliff added 13 kills and five digs. The Chaparrals hit .223 as a team, and limited the Zias to a .205 hitting percentage.

Mandy Moffitt supplied LCU with 44 assists and 14 digs. Meagan Kamplain earned 15 digs for the Chaps.

Mariner’s 23 kills led Eastern’s attack. She also recorded seven digs and three block assists. Pilon achieved 15 kills, 11 digs and three block assists. April Brockmann (Sr., OH/MB, Tempe, AZ/Chandler-Gilbert CC) contributed 12 kills and 16 digs, while Mack earned 10 kills and five digs. Setter Margie Goble (Jr., San Antonio, TX/Holmes HS) led the Zias with 52 assists and 19 digs. Courtney Wallenborn (Sr., RS, Camas, WA/Mt. Hood CC) supplied 16 digs.

The Zias will return to action with a pair of Lone Star Conference South Division home matches this weekend. ENMU will host Texas A&M University-Kingsville on Friday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. (MST), before taking on Tarleton State University on Saturday, Oct. 12 at 2 p.m. (MST). The Zias, 2-2 in the LSC, opened conference play with five-game losses at TSU (Sept. 12) and TAMUK (Sept. 14).