ENMU Clinches LSC Tournament Berth with 30-28, 31-29, 30-19 Win over Angelo State

PORTALES, NM - Eastern New Mexico University edged Angelo State University in each of the first two games, then cruised past the Rambelles in the third game, to take a 30-28, 31-29, 30-19 victory, Oct. 31 at Greyhound Arena. The win clinched a Lone Star Conference Tournament berth for the Zias, who improved to 6-3 in the LSC South and to 14-14 overall. Angelo State fell to 3-4 in the LSC South and 10-19 overall. The Rambelles have only slim hopes of qualifying for the LSC Tournament.

ENMU can finish no worse than a tie for third with Angelo State in the LSC South, but the Zias hold the tie-breaker by sweeping the season series. Eastern won at ASU in five games on Oct. 11. The top three squads from each division qualify for the LSC Tournament, which will be held Nov. 13-15 at the LSC South champion.

West Texas A&M University currently leads the South Division at 8-1 following a 3-0 win over Abilene Christian University on Oct. 31. ACU is second in the division at 5-2.

The Zias and Rambelles battled throughout the first game. ASU led 14-9 for the biggest lead of the game, but ENMU tied the score, 17-17, on a kill by junior outside hitter Anna Bellum (Albuquerque, NM/Garden City CC). The Rambelles recorded four of the next six points for a 21-19 addvantage. ENMU tied the game at 21-21 on an ace by Jennifer Bullock (Jr., S, Anaheim, CA/Cypress College) and took the lead, 22-21, on an ASU ball-handling error.

The Zias added another point on block assists by Grace George (Fr., MB, Kaaawa, HI/Kahuka HS) and Bellum. ASU answered with two kills to tie the game.

Eastern recorded three straight points for a 26-23 lead. Angelo State tallied the next two points to cut the deficit to 26-25, and also pulled within a single point at 27-26 and 28-27. The Zias led 29-27 after a kill by Bellum down the line, but a serving error reduced the lead to 29-28. An ASU kill attempt went into the net on the next rally, and ENMU won the game, 30-28.

ASU surged out to a 5-0 lead at the start of the second game. The Rambelles also led 7-2, before Eastern went on an 8-3 run to tie the game, 10-10. Angelo State regained the lead, then built a 19-14 advantage. The Zias rallied with six consecutive points for a 20-19 lead.

The score remained close for the rest of the game. ASU fought its way to a 28-27 lead, but Kelley McGinty (Jr., OH, Longview, WA/Whatcom CC) registered a kill to tie the score, and an ASU kill error gave Eastern a 29-28 lead. Angelo State to stave off game point on a blocking error by ENMU, but Bellum recorded back-to-back kills to close out the win for the Zias.

Eastern scored the first six points of the third game on it's way to a 10-1 lead. Junior middle blocker Emilie Rodman (Gillette, WY/Western Wyoming CC) achieved three kills and a block assist during the early offensive surge. The Rambelles cut the margin to seven points at 10-3 and 11-4, but never got closer. Rodman had six kills for ENMU during the game, while McGinty added four kills.

The Zias achieved a team hitting percentage of .241 on the night. Bellum led the Zias with 12 kills. Rodman added 11 kills and a .333 hitting percentage. Grace George contributed nine kills and four total blocks. McGinty led all players with 19 digs and had six kills. Bullock earned 35 assists to go with eight digs and two kills on four attacks.

Angelo State hit .093 for the match, with 36 kills and 25 errors on 118 total attacks. The Rambelles were led by Nicole Stoffel, who recorded a match-high 16 kills, while hitting .393 and providing 10 digs. No other ASU player had more than four kills.

Lindsay Huling supplied 15 digs for ASU, while Amber Nelson registered 25 assists. Nelson also achieved eight digs and earned three kills on six attacks.

The Rambelles were hurt by 11 serving errors and 10 ball-handling errors. Five of the ball-handling errors were in Game #1 and six of the serving errors were in Game #2. Stoffel's jump serve was off target - she earned one ace and had six serving errors. ASU recorded six aces overall.

ENMU had five service aces, but made seven serving errors. The Zias committed four ball-handling errors. Eastern earned one block solo and 10 block assists (6.0 team total blocks), while Angelo State achieved two block solos and 16 block assists (10.0 team total blocks).

The Zias return to action on Saturday, Nov. 1, when they will Abilene Christian. Match time at Greyhound Arena is scheduled for 2 p.m. (MST).