WICHITA FALLS, Texas – After winning the first set, Eastern New Mexico volleyball could not hold off nationally ranked #22 Colorado Mesa, falling 3-1, on Saturday, Sept. 11 at the MSU Hampton Inn-Vitational.
 
Each team traded points to open the first set with CMU taking control 13-11. From that moment, the Mavericks strung together four straight points to take a 17-11 lead. ENMU would mount a comeback going on an 8-1 scoring run with Gracelyn Stubbs, Kali Nelson, and Jasmine Gannon finding kills, to take a 21-20 lead. After a Colorado Mesa timeout, the score seesawed back and forth but the Greyhounds claimed the first set. At a tie score of 23-23, Jordan O'Connor-Dempsey and Mikaela Garvin each found kills to finish the first set 25-23.
 
The Mavericks opened the second set aggressive, using an 8-1 streak to jump out to an 8-3 lead. Colorado Mesa continued their momentum using another large point streak to push the score to 20-10. Eastern chipped away at the lead with three consecutive kills from Stubbs. However, the Mavericks would finish off the set, winning by a score of 25-17.
 
With the sets at one each, Colorado Mesa used a 9-1 scoring run to establish a 13-6 lead early. Slowly, the Hounds worked towards the Mavericks lead, coming within three points, 21-18 CMU. ENMU would push the Mavericks to the edge at 24-22, but Colorado Mesa finished the set on top 25-22.
 
In the fourth set, the Greyhounds grabbed the first four points, courtesy of three kills from Garvin, and block assists from O'Connor-Dempsey and Garvin. Colorado Mesa would respond with a 6-2 streak to bring the score back even at 6-6. From then, CMU carved out a narrow lead 15-12 over the Greyhounds. Both teams would go back and forth, with neither team able to get a scoring run going, 21-19 CMU. Colorado Mesa would close the match with a 4-1 run, taking the final set 25-20, winning 3-1 over ENMU
 

NOTABLE STATS

• The Mavericks outdid the Greyhounds on attack, 54-46. Colorado Mesa also held the defensive edge with 48 digs, compared to the Hounds 42 digs.
• Leading the attack was Jasmine Gannon, who collected 16 kills throughout the four-set match. Stubbs and Garvin followed in the attack with 10 and nine kills, respectively.
• Qitana Sapiga paced the way with 19 assists, while Rae Sapiga added 17 assists to the Greyhounds offense.
• Gannon contributed 13 digs, adding to their offensive output. Grace Ramirez was next in defense with 10 digs.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Gannon and Stubbs were both selected to the MSU Texas All-Tournament Team.
• Over the weekend, R. Sapiga delivered their 1,000th assist, achieving the feat in 223 sets. 
• Stubbs tied a career high in kills with 10, while Garvin tied a season high with nine kills.
• Ramirez' 10 digs set a new career high for the libero.
• Meanwhile, Q. Sapiga 19 assists was enough for a new season high.
• The Greyhounds now head into conference play, traveling Texas A&M-Commerce for a Friday night clash, on Sept. 17, with the match set to begin at 5 p.m.