ENMU volleyball team breaks through in LSC

PORTALES — After the opening set on Saturday, it looked like it was “here we go again” for Eastern New Mexico University’s volleyball team.

The Greyhounds hit St. Edward’s with a 9-1 surge to start the match, then saw Game 1 slip away late. But they recovered to post a 23-25, 25-17, 28-26, 25-18 Lone Star Conference victory over the Austin-based Hilltoppers at Greyhound Arena, and end their six-match LSC losing streak.

Junior outside hitter Mikaela Garvin posted 21 kills while freshman setter Kayla Ison had season-bests in assists (28), digs (15) and aces (3). Senior setter Qitana Sapiga earned her sixth double-double of the campaign with 18 assists and 11 digs as ENMU (10-9, 1-6 LSC) hosted St. Ed’s (5-12, 2-4) for the first time in program history and also registered back-to-back wins against the Hilltoppers for the first time.

ENMU used an 8-0 run to take command of the second set, then rallied with eight of 10 points late in Game 3 to wipe out a six-point deficit behind a kill and an ace from senior middle blocker Gracelyn Stubbs and a kill apiece from junior outside hitter Kali Nelson, Garvin and senior middle blocker Adriana Puni.

The Hounds were in control for most of Game 4 to nail down the win.

Senior outside hitter Maya Smalls collected 16 kills, 11 digs and five block assists and senior setter Esther Grussing added 30 assists and 10 digs for the Hilltoppers.

ENMU is slated to wrap up a four-match homestand tonight with a 6 p.m. LSC clash against Midwestern State.

ENMU soccer teams fall — The Greyhounds lost LSC contests on Saturday to St. Mary’s, with the Rattlers winning the women’s tilt 2-0 at Greyhound Stadium and taking the men’s contest 5-0 at San Antonio. Except for an exhibition against Wayland Baptist, it was the first match for ENMU’s men in 18 days.

Meantime, the Hounds fell to 3-7 (1-4 LSC) and 0-4 at home on the women’s side as St. Mary’s (8-2-1, 2-2-1) made a pair of first-half goals stand up.

The Rattlers scored inside the first six minutes when a corner kick by senior defender Megan Copeland curled into the net. The a defensive mixup by the Hounds led to an own goal about 20 minutes in, and nobody scored the rest of the way.

Both teams finished the tilt with 10 players as each side lost a player due to red cards.

At San Antonio, ENMU’s men trailed 1-0 well into the second half against the 18th-ranked Rattlers before St. Mary’s broke it open with three goals in a span of just under 10 minutes in the LSC opener for both squads.

The Rattlers (5-0-4 overall) dominated in shots on goal (12-3) and in corner kicks (10-2). Freshman Paul Waschkau made seven saves for the Hounds (3-3-1).

ENMU squads are slated to return to LSC action today, the men hosting Midwestern State at 5 p.m. at Greyhound Stadium while the women face Oklahoma Christian in Oklahoma City in a 5 p.m. (MDT) start.