Zias beaten by Highlands in four sets

Staff report

LAS VEGAS, N.M. — Freshman outside hitter Talise Babbitt keyed a match-ending 4-0 run with three kills and New Mexico Highlands outlasted Eastern New Mexico University 28-26, 26-24, 20-25, 25-23 on Tuesday night.

Babbitt finished with a match-high 14 kills for the Cowgirls (11-16), who completed a three-match sweep of the Zias (12-16), winning all of them in four sets. It was their first season sweep of ENMU since 2006.

Senior outside hitter Alicia Moreno posted a double-double for NMHU with 12 kills and 13 digs.

The Zias got 12 kills each from senior middle blocker Agatha Gibbons and sophomore outside hitter Lauren Frye, and 11 apiece from senior middle blocker Bree Lucero of Fort Sumner and senior outside hitter Lindsey Barron. Lucero, who had a career-high three aces, and Barron also were in on four total blocks apiece, while Clovis freshman Andrea Aguilar had a team-high 16 digs.

The match featured 42 ties and 25 lead changes. ENMU trailed much of the first two sets, although not by much, but had set point on both at 24-23.

Barron opened the third set with two kills and the Zias led most of the way, trailing by one point on five occasions before finishing the set on a 9-3 run.

Except for a 10-7 advantage by the Zias, neither team led by more than two points the entire fourth set. ENMU led 23-21 after a kill by Lucero before Babbitt put Highlands over the top.

ENMU, which is assured a berth in next week’s eight-team Lone Star Conference tournament at Canyon, Texas, wraps up the regular season this weekend at Greyhound Arena with LSC matches against Texas A&M-Commerce at 7 p.m. on Friday and Texas Woman’s at 1 p.m. on Saturday.