PORTALES, N.M. – In a match that took nearly three hours, Eastern New Mexico Volleyball could not outlast St. Mary's, as the Rattlers took the contest 3-2. Eastern slip to 9-9 on the season, along with a 0-6 LSC record. St. Mary's move to 7-9 overall, while holding a 3-2 conference standing.
 
The match started with each team grabbing early points, with no team taking control of the set. With the score at 10-7 StMU, Eastern posted six straight points to take the lead and momentum away from St. Mary's, 13-10. Kali Nelson and Adriana Puni started the streak with a block, then Puni followed with a kill. Two straight blocks from the Greyhounds, a Mikaela Garvin kill, and a Jaylynn Nihipali service ace. That slim lead would be enough to take the first set, 25-23, for the Greyhounds.
 
Each team had major swings to start the second frame, with StMU jumping out to a 12-3 advantage. However, the Greyhounds fought back to tie things up at 17-17, with a 4-0 run putting the score tied. The scoreboard moved to 23-23, and the Rattlers capped the second set with a 3-1 ending, 26-24.
 
St. Mary's began the third set with a 7-3 lead, but the Greyhounds captured the lead with a 11-2 run (14-9 ENMU). Kills from Rylee Mapes, Puni, and Nelson started the streak and further kills from Anjolina Perez, Nelson, Garvin capped off the run. Eventually, Eastern moved to set point 24-19, but the Rattlers picked up four points for 24-23 ENMU. However, the Greyhounds secured the final point to take the third set, 25-23.
 
With a chance to end the match, St. Mary's and Eastern ensued in the ultimate back and forth for the fourth frame. Neither team could hold a lead larger than three points, with the Greyhounds tying the set at 20-20. St. Mary's would take two points with ENMU replying quickly with two points of their own. Eventually, the visitors finished ahead 29-27 in the set, forcing the match to a fifth set.
 
The opening phases of the final set saw the Rattlers hold a slim 5-4 margin. From then, St. Mary's posted a 9-1 stretch to go up 14-5 on ENMU. St.MU finished the set 15-7 over ENMU, taking the match 3-2.

NOTABLE STATS

• The Rattlers bested the Greyhounds for kills (73-72), while Eastern supplied more digs (110-102).
• Garvin led all participants with 17 kills during the match, Gracelyn Stubbs provided 12 kills, Puni provided 11 kills, and Mapes chipping in with 10 kills.
• Qitana Sapiga provided a team best 26 assists, with Nihipali collecting 24 assists during the contest.
• Five Greyhounds hit double-figures for assists: Getsemani Carrasco (25), Nihipali (22), Puni (17), Sapiga (11), and Perez (11).
• At the net, Puni finished with a team high six total blocks (all block assists).

FROM THE SOURCE

"We need to figure out how to close out matches. We're playing our tails off, but not getting the results we are looking for," said Head Volleyball Coach Sia Poyer.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Nihipali marked the evening with a career best 22 digs, Puni supplied a career mark for digs (17), while Sapiga posted a career high five kills.
• Three Greyhounds posted a double-double, with Nihipali finishing with 24 assists and 22 digs in the five-set match (8^th double-double of the season). Sapiga also hit double figures for both assists (26) and digs (11), fifth double-double of the campaign. Puni registered their fourth double-double of the season, finishing with 17 digs and 11 kills.
• The Greyhounds set a season high for kills (72), total attempts (216), assists (68), and digs (110) during the loss.
• 110 digs are the sixth-most in a single match for the program's history. It is the most digs for the program in over a decade, when ENMU posted a program record 155 digs against Wayland Baptist (9/7/2012)
• Eastern will closeout homecoming weekend tomorrow, Oct. 1, as St. Edward's comes to ENMU. The match is set to commence at 12 p.m. with the programs alumni match immediately after the conclusion of the match.