ENMU Evens Season Series with Wayland Baptist by Earning 3-1 Victory over Pioneers
Schiely Leads Zias with 21 Kills

Box Score

PORTALES, N.M. — The Eastern New Mexico University women’s volleyball team made up for its loss in the season-opener at Wayland Baptist University by earning a 3-1 win over the Pioneers, 30-25, 27-30, 34-32 and 30-26, on Tuesday, Sept. 27 at Greyhound Arena. The Zias improved their record to 3-8, while the Pioneers dropped to 4-12. ENMU is 3-2 in its last five matches. WBU won the first meeting, 23-30, 30-24, 31-29, 30-17, on Aug. 30.

In just their second home match of the season, the Zias were able to keep the Pioneers at bay throughout the first game. Eastern relinquished the lead only once during the game, at 24-23, as the Zias took a 1-0 lead in the match. Senior middle blocker Lindsay Schiely (Portland, OR/Clackamas CC) provided five kills during the game, while setter Kathryn McCannell (Jr., Brandon, MAN, Canada/Bemidji State University) recorded 10 assists.

Wayland Baptist evened the score at one game apiece after ENMU squandered an early 6-1 lead in the second game. WBU scored five consecutive points for a 6-6 tie, and later used a 5-1 run for a 19-15 advantage. The Zias were hurt by six service errors at crucial times during the game. ENMU pulled as close as 29-27, but gave WBU the game winning point with one of the service errors. The Pioneers were led by MaryGrace Moore and Hailey Clark, who each recorded four kills in the game.

Eastern had to rally in the third game after falling behind on several occasions. Down 5 2, the Zias were able to score five consecutive points for a 7-5 lead, with Rhea Wortman (Fr., OH, Prineville, OR/Crook County HS) providing two kills during the run. The Pioneers regained the lead at 8-7 and increased their advantage to 25-19.

Eastern began to shore up its defense and eventually caught WBU at 26-26 on a service ace by Wortman. The Pioneers took a 29-27 lead for the first of four game points, but WBU couldn’t win the game, as the Zias tied the score each time.

Kristi Britain (Sr., OH, Fort Sumner, NM/Fort Sumner HS) pulled the Zias within one point, 29-28, followed by a kill from Grace George (Jr., MB, Kaaawa, HI/Kahuku HS), assisted by Kara Killian (S, Fr., Amarillo, TX/Randall HS), to tie the game. After WBU scored the next point, George received another assist from Killian for a kill and a 30-30 tie. Wortman and Schiely each provided kills to tie the score at 31-31 and 32-32, respectively. Two kill errors by WBU provided the winning margin, giving ENMU a 2-1 lead in the match.

The Zias took command early in the fourth game and attained their biggest lead of the match at 19-8. Eastern also led 23-14 and 26-19, but let Wayland Baptist mount a comeback with five consecutive points to pull within 26-24. The Pioneers did not get any closer, as Schiely registered two kills, Wortman earned a service ace and George connected for one kill the rest of the way.

For the match, Schiely led the Zias with 21 kills and achieved a .304 hitting percentage. Wortman tacked on 15 kills, a team-leading .351 hitting percentage and 17 digs. George recorded 14 kills and seven total blocks. Vanessa Wilcox (Fr., OH, Houston, TX/Kempner HS) earned a team-high 19 digs. McCannell was the assist leader with 34, while Killian provided 20.

Wayland Baptist received 17 kills each from Moore and Randi Trew. Setter Abby Loerwald contributed 41 assists. T’Leah Eicke led the Pioneers with 19 digs, while Moore supplied 18 digs and Trew added seven total blocks.

Eastern remains at home on Thursday, Sept. 29 for a 7 p.m. MDT match against Tarleton State University in the opening of Lone Star Conference South Division play for ENMU. On Saturday, Oct. 1 , the Zias will match up against LSC South foe Texas A&M University-Kingsville at 2 p.m. MDT as part of Eastern’s Homecoming festivities.