West Texas A&M Slips Past Eastern New Mexico University 30-28, 26-30, 30-28, 30-28

PORTALES, NM - Eastern New Mexico University hosted Lone Star Conference power West Texas A&M University at Greyhound Arena on Tuesday, Oct. 7, and the Zias played well throughout the match, but the Lady Buffs edged Eastern, 30-28, 26-30, 30-28, 30-28. WTAMU, which extended its NCAA Division II record for consecutive conference wins to 77 matches, improved to 17-5 overall and to 3-0 in the LSC South. Eastern fell to 7-11 on the season, 2-1 in the LSC South.

The Lady Buffs rallied from a 22-21 deficit in the third game and overcame a 19-13 deficit in Game #4, to slip past the Zias for the win. It was WTAMU's 22nd consecutive victory over the Zias.

In the third game, WTAMU went on a 4-0 run for a 25-22 lead, then traded points until the Lady Buffs led, 29-27. Eastern cut the deficit to one point on a kill by Anna Bellum (Jr., OH, Albuquerque, NM/Garden City CC), but the Lady Buffs ended the game with a kill.

In the fourth game, ENMU took a six-point lead at 12-6. Eastern later held a 19-13 lead, which disappeared when WTAMU countered with a 6-0 run. The Zias led 24-22 before West Texas scored points in a row for a 25-24 advantage. WTAMU led 28-26 following an ace by Kendra Morgan and 29-27 after a quick set to Ambra Clark. Eastern followed with a kill by Emilie Rodman (Jr., MB, Gillette, WY/Western Wyoming CC). The Lady Buffs took the next point to win the match.

Clark led West Texas A&M with 23 kills, while Jessica Scherr added 16 kills and 16 digs. Rachel Altman provided 14 kills, and a .321 hitting percentage. The Lady Buffs finished the match fewer kills (64) than ENMU (68), but earned 109 digs compared to 89 digs for the Zias.

WTAMU's senior setter, Kendra Morgan, contributed 39 assists and 14 digs. She also had three kills. Kacie Hyatt led all players with 27 digs, while Brittani Bell and Libby Garza each added 17 digs.

The Zias led 3-1 early in the first game. Eastern also owned a 17-13 advantage, but West Texas A&M put together a 6-1 run for a 19-18 lead. The Zias tied the score at 22-22 and 23-23, then West Texas scored four unanswered points. ENMU pulled within 28-27 on a kill error by the Lady Buffs, and trailed just 29-28 after a combo block by Grace George (Fr., MB, Kaaawa, HI/Kahuka HS) and Kelley McGinty (Jr., OH, Longview, WA/Whatcom CC). The Lady Buffs won the game with a kill.

The Zias fell behind 8-5 and 16-13 in the second game, but took a 23-19 advantage on a service ace by Jennifer Bullock (Jr., S, Anaheim, CA/Cypress College). ENMU led by five points several times, including 27-22 on a kill by McGinty and 29-24 on a kill by Bellum.

Bellum recorded 23 kills to tie Clark of WTAMU for match-high honors. She also had 19 kills and two block assists. She connected for five kills in each of the first three games, then added eight kills in the fourth game.

Rodman supplied the Zias with 16 kills and a .406 hitting percentage. George produced 13 kills and five total blocks, while McGinty pounded out 10 kills and achieved a team-high 20 digs.

Bullock amassed 59 assists on the night to go with 18 digs for Eastern. Jessica Weeks (Jr., LIB, Brownell, KS/Garden City CC) earned 14 digs, and Olivia Boan (So., DS, Portales, NM/Portales HS) was credited with 13 digs.

The highly-contested match ended with West Texas hitting .209 and Eastern New Mexico University hitting .201. Both teams registered four service aces, but the Lady Buffs had five service errors compared to nine service errors by the Zias. WTAMU achieved 9.5 team total blocks (4 solo, 11 assists), while ENMU concluded the match with 7.0 blocks (2 solo, 10 assists).

ENMU continues LSC South play on Friday, Oct. 10 at Abilene Christian University and on Saturday, Oct. 11 at Angelo State University. The start time in Abilene, Texas, for the ACU match is slated for 6 p.m. (MDT). First serve in San Angelo, Texas, for the match with ASU, is set for 1 p.m. (MDT).