Five Zias Earn Double-Digit Kills as ENMU Defeats Angelo State, 3-2

PORTALES, NM – Eastern New Mexico University received double-digit kills from five different players, as the Zias held of Angelo State University for a 30-28, 30-18, 18-30, 25-30, 15-12 victory in a Lone Star Conference South Division match, Sept. 21 at Greyhound Arena. With the win, ENMU improved to 10-4 on the season, including 2-2 in the LSC South. ASU fell to 6-5 overall and to 0-2 in the LSC South.

The Zias have played in an ENMU record five consecutive 5-game matches. Eastern won three of the matches, dropping road contests at Tarleton State and Texas A&M-Kingsville before winning at New Mexico Highlands and defeating Abilene Christian and Angelo State at home. The previous record was three 5-game matches in a row, set in 1988 and 1994.

Senior middle blocker Christabell Mariner (Pago Pago, American Samoa/Tafuna HS) led the Zias with 15 kills. April Brockmann (Sr., OH/MB, Tempe, AZ/Chandler-Gilbert CC) contributed 12 kills. Courtney Wallenborn (Sr., RS, Camas, WA/Mt. Hood CC), Anya Mack (Jr., OH/RS, Cope, CO/Sheridan JC) and Raina Pilon (Sr., MB, Eagan, MN/Pasco-Hernando CC) each added 11 kills. Setter Margie Goble (Jr., San Antonio, TX/Holmes HS) provided 5 kills and 48 assists.

ENMU also placed five players in double figures for digs. Brockmann recorded 18 digs, Goble earned 15 digs and Wallenborn had 12 digs. Mariner and Pilon chipped in 10 digs apiece. Mariner led the Zias in blocking, with three block solos and five block assists.

Eastern rallied from a 27-24 deficit in the first game to take a 30-28 win. The Zias tied the game with three straight points, then fell behind on a kill by the Rambelles. Mariner used a pair of kills to give ENMU a 29-28 lead, then the Zias won the game on an attacking error by ASU.

In the second game, the Zias led 12-11 before going on a 7-0 run for an eight-point lead. The Rambelles scored the next two points, but never got closer the rest of the game.
The Zias fell behind 11-4 and were unable to recover in the third game, as ASU kept its hopes alive with a 30-18 win. Angelo State led 11-7 in the fourth game, but later held a slim 18-16 lead. The Rambelles scored the next point and remained in front for a 30-25 victory to force the fifth and deciding game.

Two kills by Mariner, plus aces from Pilon and Brockmann, helped the Zias build a 6-3 lead at the start of Game #5. ENMU took an 8-5 lead, only to have ASU pull within one point at 9-8. The Zias responded with a 5-0 run to claim a 14-8 advantage. Brockmann recorded the final point of the match when she bounced an attack off the ASU block.

Nicole Stoffel of Angelo State registered a match-high 22 kills. She also earned 9 digs. Shelby Pitcock added a match-high 26 digs, while Tinley Grimes supplied 15 kills and four block assists. Lindsey Jones contributed nine kills, seven digs and four block assists. Amber Nelson and Nancy Reavis each provided the Rambelles with 11 digs.

ENMU earned a .198 hitting percentage during the match, while ASU hit .194. The Zias recorded 72 digs and ASU amassed 66 digs. Both teams blocked well over various stretches of the match, with Eastern achieving 14.0 total blocks (6 solo, 16 block assists) and ASU earning 13.0 total blocks (3 solo, 20 block assists).

The Zias remain at home for a non-conference match against Wayland Baptist University on Tuesday, Sept. 24. Match time is set for 7 p.m. (MST). ENMU defeated WBU, 30-25, 30-26, 30-15, when the teams met Sept. 3 in Plainview, Texas.