ENMU Rallies Past ACU to Take Over Second Place in LSC South
Bellum Provides Zias with 25 Kills and 13 Digs

PORTALES, NM - Junior outside hitter Anna Bellum (Albuquerque, NM/Garden City CC) pounded out 25 kills and added 13 digs, leading Eastern New Mexico University to a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over Abilene Christian University, in a Lone Star Conference match, Nov. 1, at Greyhound Arena. The Zias trailed 2-1 after three games, before winning 17-30, 30-25, 27-30, 30-23, 15-12. With the win, ENMU upped its record to 15-14 and moved into second place in the LSC South at 7-3. Abilene Christian fell to 22-10, 5-3 in the LSC South.

ENMU has clinched at least a tie for second place in the division. ACU has two LSC South home matches remaining, against Tarleton State University (Nov. 7) and Texas A&M University-Kingsville (Nov. 8). ENMU has completed its LSC schedule. If ACU wins both of its matches, the Wildcats will tie the Zias for second place and will receive the #2 seed from the South Division in the LSC Tournament.

West Texas A&M University has clinched the LSC South championship and will host the LSC Tournament at the WTAMU Fieldhouse, Nov. 13-15. The top three teams from each division qualify for the tournament. WTAMU, ENMU and ACU will represent the LSC South.

ACU started strong against the Zias, taking the first game 30-17. The game was tied, 6-6, before the Wildcats scored five consecutive points to start an 11-3 run. ACU tacked on three of the next five points for a 20-11 lead, then maintained at least a 9-point edge over ENMU the rest of the way. The Wildcats recorded 21 kills and a .450 hitting percentage in the game, while limiting the Zias to eight kills and a .083 hitting percentage.

ENMU elevated its play in the second game, hitting .350 with 20 kills. The Zias stormed out to a 10-4 lead, but had to hold off an ACU rally, as the Wildcats pulled within 20-18. Eastern scored the next four points on a back-row kill by defensive specialist Olivia Boan (Portales, NM/Portales HS), two kills by Bellum and a kill error by the Wildcats. Abilene Christian cut the deficit to four points at 27-23 and 29-25, before ENMU registered the game's final point when an ACU hit landed out of bounds.

In the third game, neither team led by more than four points (ENMU led 15-11). Abilene Christian tied the score at 17-17 on a blocking error by the Zias, then moved in front with back-to-back kills. Eastern tied the score three more times during the game, the last at 25-25. ACU scored the next point and eventually led 28-25 on its way to a 30-27 win.

Eastern trailed 8-4 in the fourth game, but reduced the margin to 10-8, then added six consecutive points for a 14-10 lead. The Zias were in front 19-12 after a solo block by Bellum, and later held a 26-18 advantage. ACU got back within 27-23, but the Zias won the next three points - two on kills by Bellum - to take the game, 30-23, and force Game #5.

Bellum had 11 kills and three blocks in the fourth game. She recorded four kills and two blocks during Eastern's six-point run for a 14-10 margin.

ACU tallied the first point of Game #5, but the Zias never trailed again. ENMU held a 4-2 lead, and later broke a 7-7 tie on a block by Emilie Rodman (Jr., MB, Gillette, WY/Western Wyoming CC) and Jennifer Luttrell (Fr., MB/RS, Dripping Springs, TX/Dripping Springs HS).

The Zias scored the next point and took a 12-8 margin on a block by Rodman and Bellum several plays later. Amanda Slate recorded an ace to pull ACU within 13-11, before Bellum added a kill for a 14-11 lead. Sophia Kindred of Abilene earned a a kill to make it 14-12, then Luttrell and Grace George (Fr., MB, Kaaawa, HI/Kahuka HS) blocked Michelle Bernhardt to win the match.

Bellum's 25 kills and .400 hitting percentage led all players with more than one attack. In addition to 13 digs, she contributed one service ace, two block solos and two block assists.

George provided 13 kills, eight digs and nine block assists for the Zias, while Rodman added 11 kills and three blocks. Jennifer Bullock (Jr., S, Anaheim, CA/Cypress College) earned 47 assists, 11 digs, five kills and four blocks. Kelley McGinty (Jr., OH, Longview, WA/Whatcom CC) topped both teams with 20 digs to go with seven kills. Boan earned 14 digs and Jessica Weeks (Jr., LIB, Brownell, KS/Garden City CC) recorded 10 digs. ENMU hit .243 for the match.

Four ACU players earned double-digit kills. Haylee Hartline had 19 kills, while Bernhardt earned 18, Slate provided 14and Ashlee Motola connected for 13. Kellen Morrow paced ACU with 18 digs. Malia Plumlee earned 63 assists, seven digs and three block assists.

The Wildcats finished the match with 11 serving aces and 11 serving errors. Slate led ACU in both categories with four aces and six errors. Both teams blocked well, as ACU earned four block solos and 28 block assists and ENMU totaled two block solos and 24 block assists.

ENMU will complete its regular season schedule on Tuesday, Nov. 4, against Wayland Baptist University. Match time at Greyhound Arena is scheduled for 7 p.m. (MST).