PORTALES, N.M. – Eastern New Mexico volleyball were taken down on Friday evening, 3-0, against the visiting University of Arkansas – Fort Smith (UAFS). The Hounds fall to 1-15, 1-7 in conference play, while the Lady Lions move to 9-9, with a 4-5 conference standing.
 
The away team established in early four-point cushion in the first set, 8-4. Adriana Puni brought the Hounds to life with two kills and a service ace in the span of four points to put the score at 16-15 Eastern. From then, the Lady Lions put together an 8-2 stretch to take a comfortable 23-18 lead. UAFS captured the first set 25-19.
 
After trading points to open the second frame, the Lady Lions used a 13-3 run to jump out to a large lead, 16-7. ENMU tried to stop the UAFS streak, with Jasmine Gannon finding a kill, but the Lady Lions were persistent. With the score at 16-9, UAFS closed the set on a 9-2 run, winning the set comfortably, 25-11.
 
In the third set, Gracelyn Stubbs opened the set with a kill which sparked an early Greyhounds lead. Puni connected for two kills pushing the score to 7-3 ENMU. However, UAFS stormed back to tie the score at 7-7, but Mikaela Garvin stopped the run with a kill, handing ENMU a slight lead, 8-7. With the Hounds leading 10-9, the Lady Lions strung together an 8-1 run, 17-11 UAFS. Both teams traded points as the set continued, but UAFS closed out the set on a 5-0 run. The set finished at 25-17, and the match ended at 3-0 UAFS.

NOTABLE STATS

• The Lady Lions held the edge in attack with 37 kills, opposed to the 28 kills from the Greyhounds.
• Both teams were close for digs, with UAFS finding 27 digs, with Eastern having 25 digs.
• Four Greyhounds supplied six kills on the night: Gannon, Stubbs, Puni, and Garvin.
• Rae Sapiga paced the Hounds in assists, 14, with Qitana Sapiga just behind with 10.
• Both R. Sapiga and Q. Sapiga contributed five digs on the night, while Gannon added four digs.
• Stubbs led the front line in blocks with three total, while Kali Nelson had two total blocks.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Eastern sported pink jerseys during the game as part of Dig Pink weekend and to raise breast cancer awareness.
• UAFS and ENMU faced off for just the second time in program history, with the Lady Lions holding a 2-0 lead.
• This was also the first time both times met as Lone Star Conference opponents and the first time UAFS played in Portales against ENMU.
• Eastern return to the floor tomorrow as they welcome Oklahoma Christian University to Greyhound Arena. First serve is scheduled for 12 p.m.