PORTALES, N.M. – Despite a victory in the third set and late pushes in the second and fourth, the Eastern New Mexico volleyball team fell to Western New Mexico 3-1 (18-25, 21-25, 25-22, 25-21) Friday evening inside Greyhound Arena.
Junior outside hitter Jasmine Gannon finished with her fourth double-double of the season as she led the squad with 12 kills and added 12 digs. Freshman middle blocker Gracelyn Stubbs had a career night as she tallied season-highs in kills (eight), points (11) assists (two) and service aces (three) while leading the team with three blocks.
The Mustangs scored the first two points of the night before the Hounds orchestrated a 6-1 run sparked by a kill from senior middle blocker Christelle Kialanda. Eastern held a 12-11 lead midway through the first set but WNMU finished strong rattling off seven of the last nine points as they took the set 25-18.
The second frame was the Hounds most efficient as the squad finished with 12 kills on 32 total attacks for a team hitting percentage of .344 however, it was not enough to overcome a 7-1 run to begin the set from the Mustangs as ENMU fell 25-21.
The Green and Silver jumped out to an early 8-3 advantage in the third frame capped off by one of Gannon's 12 kills as the Hounds rode the momentum throughout the set. The Hounds recorded a game-high 14 kills in the frame before taking the set by a 25-22 final.
The Hounds trailed 18-12 late in the final set before a surprise attack from freshman setter Qitana Sapiga caught the Mustangs defense sleeping and sparked a 5-0 Eastern run to trim the deficit to a single point. ENMU had chances late to take the frame but ultimately its game-low .098 hitting percentage was the difference maker as Western won the frame 25-21.
Leading the way defensively was sophomore libero M'Lee Vinson who finished with 22 digs. The Eunice, N.M. native has recorded double-digit dig figures in nine of her last 11 games and recorded a career-high 26 last week against West Texas A&M. Sophomore setter Rae Sapiga led the squad in the assist column with 19 while her sister Qitana tallied 14.
The Hounds are back in action tomorrow as they face division foe UT Permian Basin at noon inside Greyhound Arena.
