ENMU extends streak, earns two LSC awards

PORTALES — Eastern New Mexico University’s volleyball team continued its late-season roll on Saturday, so much so that the Greyhounds are now in strong position to qualify for the Lone Star Conference postseason tournament later this month.

Mired near the basement of the 18-team circuit only a few weeks ago, ENMU (6-15, 6-7 LSC) extended its winning steak to five — the program’s longest since a six-match run in 2016 — with a tight 25-23, 25-22, 26-24 sweep of Texas A&M-Kingsville on Saturday at Greyhound Arena.

With the victory, the Hounds climbed into a three-way tie for 10th place with the Javelinas (12-7, 6-7) and St. Edward’s (11-9, 6-7). The top 12 teams qualify for the first round of LSC tourney play on Nov. 16.

Further, they are one game behind three teams tied for seventh place at 7-6 — St. Mary’s, Dallas Baptist and Arkansas-Fort Smith. And they have a three-match lead — with four to go — over the next four teams in the standings.

Freshman outside hitter Mikaela Garvin led the Hounds with 13 kills, followed by senior outside hitter Jasmine Gannon and sophomore middle blocker Gracelyn Stubbs with nine apiece. Junior setter Rae Sapiga posted a match-high 26 assists, while sophomore libero Daejia Rodriguez led the team in digs with 11.

Garvin and Stubbs were also recognized as the LSC’s offensive player and setter of the week, respectively, the first LSC awards for the team this season. Angelo State’s Chloe Patton was named defensive player of the week, her second such award of the season.

All three sets against the Javs were close. Game 1 featured five ties and 15 lead changes before ENMU ended it on a 4-2 run, helped by kills from Garvin and freshman outside hitter Kali Nelson.

In the second set, the Hounds took control with a 9-1 stretch to go up 19-13 and held on late. Game 3 had 14 ties and six lead changes, but ENMU finished it with the final four points, the last two coming on kills by Gannon.

ENMU’s streak will be put to the test this weekend with a 5 p.m. match on Friday at Lubbock Christian (16-6, 11-2) and a 1 p.m. contest on Saturday at Angelo State (19-3, 12-1). They close the season at home the following weekend against Dallas Baptist and Texas Woman’s.

Commerce blanks Hounds — The ENMU women’s soccer team saw its winless streak stretch to 13 matches on Saturday, dropping a 2-0 Lone Star Conference decision to Texas A&M-Commerce at Greyhound Stadium.

The Hounds (2-13-1, 0-10-1) have gone 0-12-1 since starting 2-1, losing six matches on either side of a 1-1 tie in double overtime at St. Mary’s on Oct. 9. During that stretch, ENMU hasn’t given up more than three goals in any match, has been whitewashed seven times and outscored 28-7.

Freshman forward Karalie Morrison put the Lions (7-7-2, 5-5-1) in front in the 22nd minute with her 11th goal of the season, while senior forward Leslie Campuzano tallied her ninth goal of the campaign with just under six minutes left in the match.

Commerce outshot the Hounds on goal 11-4, with ENMU senior Whitney Dockweiler collecting nine saves.

The team concludes its 2021 home slate with a 7 p.m. clash today against Lubbock Christian, then wraps up the season in a 1 p.m. tilt on Saturday at Texas-Tyler.