COMMERCE, Texas – Eastern New Mexico volleyball powered their way to its first win of the season, after knocking off Texas A&M-Commerce in a road Lone Star Conference (LSC) contest. The Greyhounds captured victory in five-sets, 3-2, moving to 1-0 in conference play.
 
Both the Lions and Greyhounds traded points in the opening stages of the first set. With no team able to separate themselves, Texas A&M-Commerce took the first step at 17-16 TAMUC. The Lions used a three-point spurt to create a gap, then adding on to it and captured the first set 25-19. Commerce closed the set on an 8-3 run.
 
The second set followed, as a very close affair with both teams locked at 8-8. From then, ENMU put together a 5-1 scoring run, off the back of two Jasmine Gannon kills and a kill from Mikaela Garvin, 13-9 Hounds. Eastern continued the positive streak, pushing the score to 20-14. Gracelyn Stubbs and Kali Nelson each found a kill, then combined for a block during the stretch. The Greyhounds finished off the set, 25-16, following a Rae Sapiga ace.
 
The Lions didn't waste time in the third set, storming out to a 7-2 lead, forcing a timeout from ENMU. Trailing 9-2, the Greyhounds pulled the score back, mounting 7-2 streak to come within two points of the home team, 11-9 TAMUC. Each team traded points, but the Lions held a narrow lead at 20-16. Commerce held on and took the third set, 25-20.  

Eastern responded in the fourth set, taking a 11-8 advantage after a 3-0 scoring run, forcing a Lions timeout. TAMUC climbed back into the set, 14-14, only for the Hounds to collect three straight points, 17-14. Commerce did not relent, tying the score at 21-21. The Greyhounds finished the set on a 4-0 run, with Stubbs providing a solo block and a block assist taking the fourth set 25-21.
 
In the decisive set, each team went back and forth trying to find an edge in the early stages of the set. The breakthrough came from the Greyhounds, sparking a five-point run, to grab a 12-8 lead. ENMU powered on and win the final set, closing the match on a 7-2 run, winning the set 15-10.

NOTABLE STATS

• ENMU were clinical in attack, holding a season high .316 hitting % as a team. The Lions held the edge in kills (65-56), digs, (8277), but the Greyhounds had the advantage in total blocks (13-4).
• Gannon was dominant with 17 kills, holding a hitting % of .436, and adding 14 digs.
• Nelson and Stubbs each hit double digits in kills, with 11 and 10 kills, respectively.
• R.Sapiga posted 23 assists, with Qitana Sapiga just behind with 17 assists.
• Daejia Rodriguez covered the court with 23 digs, while Adriana Puni added 13 digs.
• Stubbs and Nelson paved the way in total blocks, with seven and six total blocks each.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Several Greyhounds set career highs during the match. Rodriguez (22) and Puni (13) each notched career highs in digs.
• Both Stubbs and Nelson set career highs in points, with 15.5 and 14 points, respectively. Nelson also garnered a career best in kills with 11.
• Gannon (22) eclipsed a season high in points, while R. Sapiga's 23 assists were enough for a season high.
• Nelson (6) and Jordan O'Connor-Dempsey (5) had career marks in total blocks, while Stubbs set a season high (7).  
• The Greyhounds took part in their first LSC contest since a 3-1 win over Western New Mexico University, on Nov. 16, 2019.
• ENMU picked up their first win against the Lions since a 3-0 victory on Nov. 17^th, 2016 in the LSC postseason.
• The Greyhounds notched a road win against Texas A&M-Commerce for the first time since a 3-2 win at the Field House on Oct. 4^th, 2014.
• Eastern close out the weekend with a trip to UT-Tyler, Saturday, Sept. 18^th, in Tyler, Texas. The match is set to start at 12 p.m.