AUSTIN, Texas – Eastern New Mexico Volleyball snagged the first set, but could not hold off St. Edward's University, falling 3-1 in a Lone Star Conference (LSC) matchup on Friday evening at the Recreation and Athletics Center. ENMU falls to 1-5 in LSC action, while the Hilltoppers move to 4-3 in conference play.
 
The home team quickly established an early lead off the back of a 7-1 run, forcing an Eastern timeout. Following the timeout, St. Edward's grew their lead to 10-5, with the Greyhounds picking up points on blocks from Mikaela Garvin, Adriana Puni, and Gracelyn Stubbs. The Hounds provided a small spurt to close the lead to 15-10, with Jasmine Gannon, and Stubbs finding a kill, along with a McKinzie Davis service ace. From then, both teams traded points until ENMU brought the score to 21-18 SEU, after a 3-0 stretch. The Greyhounds followed this with a 4-1 run, bringing the score to 22-22. ENMU closed out the set with a Davis service ace, and a solo block from Kali Nelson, taking the first set 25-22. Overall, Eastern closed the set on 10-1 run to turn around the first frame after trailing as many as eight points.
 
The second set saw both team trade points back and forth, with each locking at six points each. Eastern provided a 3-0 run to separate themselves, but St. Edwards replied with a 3-0 run of their own. Neither team could establish a large lead in the set, with 13 ties and seven lead changes in the second set. The change came with the score at 20-19 ENMU, SEU rattled a 5-1 stretch grabbing a 24-21 lead. The Hilltoppers eventually closed out the set 25-22, tying the sets at 1-1.
 
ENMU started the third set with a 2-0 lead courtesy of a Puni kill and a Rae Sapiga service ace. However, the Hilltoppers stormed back with a 7-1 stretch taking lead 7-3. The Hounds brought the score back to 9-7 SEU, but the Hilltoppers immediately replied a 4-0 run.  Eastern tried closing the gap, but any attempt was met by a Hilltoppers surge. The Greyhounds did bring the score to 21-18 SEU, after back-to-back kills from Stubbs, forcing a Hilltoppers timeout. After the timeout, St. Edward's finished out the set 25-20, taking a 2-1 set lead.
 
Eastern opened the fourth stanza with 6-2 lead, off the back of five kills and a service ace. Garvin, Davis, Stubbs, and Nelson found kills, while Puni grabbed the service ace. St. Edward's brought the score to 8-7 Greyhounds, but Eastern tallied a 5-1 from that point. Three kills and two blocks pushed the score to 13-8 ENMU on the 5-1 run. The home team brought the score back to within one, 17-16 ENMU, causing an Eastern timeout. The Hilltoppers turned the score, using a 8-2 run to establish a 24-20 lead. The Hounds did not quit, with Gannon grabbing a kill, and a service ace, pushing the score to 24-23. However, St. Edward's found a kill to seal the set 25-23, and winning the match 3-1.

NOTABLE STATS

• St. Edward's found 48 kills on the evening, while ENMU supplied 39 kills.
• Eastern held the edge in blocks with 11, compared to the Hilltoppers eight.
• Gannon was the focal point of the Greyhounds offense with 11 kills, while leading the team defensively with 19 digs.
• Garvin and Stubbs assisted in the attack, with nine and eight kills, respectively.
• R. Sapiga paced the Hounds with 18 assists, while Qitana Sapiga added 13 assists on the night.
• Daejia Rodriguez and R. Sapiga each found nine digs, while Nelson led the team in total blocks with five (two solo and three assists).

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Gannon collected their sixth double-double of the season, while also setting a career high in digs with 19.
• The Hounds found double digit blocks in a match for the fourth time this season.
• ENMU met with St. Edward's for the first time since Sept. 28, 2019, when the Hilltoppers came out 3-1 winners.
• Eastern have a quick turnaround, facing St. Mary's University on Saturday, Oct. 9, in San Antonio, Texas. First serve is set for 1 p.m.