ENMU Sweeps Past Texas A&M-Kingsville

Bellum Leads Zias with 16 Kills, 17 digs

KINGSVILLE, TX - Junior outside hitter Anna Bellum (Albuquerque, NM/Garden City CC) contributed 16 kills and 17 digs, as the Zias of Eastern New Mexico University defeated Texas A&M University-Kingsville, 3-0, in a Lone Star Conference match, Oct. 23, at the Steinke Center. ENMU won the match 30-25, 30-16, 30-25, to improved to 12-13 overall, 4-2 in the LSC South. TAMUK dropped to 7-20 on the season, including 1-4 in the LSC South.

The Zias, who feature six new starters from a year ago, were 5-10 at one point this season, but have gone 7-3 in the past 10 games. ENMU now owns a modest three-match winning streak.

Eastern achieved a solid .256 team hitting percentage against the Javelinas, including a .361 mark in the second game. Bellum's 16 kills with just four errors on 31 total attacks (.387) led the way for ENMU. She is averaging 4.2 kills per game for the season.

The Zias opened the match with a hard-fought 30-25 win, then took control with a decisive 30-16 win in the second game. ENMU closed out the match with another 30-25 victory. The Zias recorded 14 kills in Game #1, then added 17 kills in Game #2 and 19 kills in Game #3.

Bellum led all players in kills, while Natalie Walther of TAMUK earned 18 digs to rank first in the defensive stats. ENMU's Kelley McGinty (Jr., OH, Longview, WA/Whatcom CC) finished with 12 kills and a .294 hitting percentage. She also achieved 13 digs.

Setter Jennifer Bullock (Jr., Anaheim, CA/Cypress College) provided the Zias with 35 assists, 10 digs, three block assists and three kills. Olivia Boan (So., DS, Portales, NM/Portales HS) supplied four service aces, helping ENMU earn eight aces overall. Boan also earned six digs.

For the Javelinas, Jamie Alvarado had 12 kills and 11 digs, while Melanie Biggerstaff added 11 kills and five digs. Sara Streets provided 30 assists, two aces and seven digs.

Eastern recorded 50 kills and limited Texas A&M-Kingsville to 35 kills and a .057 hitting percentage. Both teams achieved 54 digs during the match.

The Zias remain on the road to take on Tarleton State University in another LSC South match on Saturday, Oct. 25, at 4 p.m. (MDT). The Zias will complete their three-game road swing at West Texas A&M University on Tuesday, Oct. 28, at 6 p.m. (MST).