ENMU's LSC struggles continue

SAN ANTONIO – To say it's been a rough start for Eastern New Mexico University's volleyball team in Lone Star Conference play would qualify as, well, a bit of an understatement.

The Greyhounds were 8-5 coming into their conference slate, but on Friday night fell to 0-6 in league play with a 26-24, 25-15, 25-12 loss to St. Mary's. What's more, they are yet to win a set during that stretch.

Against the Rattlers (8-6, 3-2 LSC), the Hounds got to set point in Game 1, opening a 24-21 lead with a 6-0 run. But they couldn't finish it off as the home team got three kills (two by freshman outside hitter Kelly Swyers), an ace from sophomore middle blocker Dallasstar Johnson and an ENMU attack error.

Leading 16-14 in Game 2, St. Mary's scored nine of the final 10 points to go up 2-0, then took quick control in the third set with another 9-1 surge.

The Rattlers recorded a season-high 19 block assists, led by Johnson with six. Junior outside hitter Alicia Virthe had 10 kills and four block assists, while Johnson had eight kills and three of the team's nine aces.

For the Hounds, senior outside hitter Mikaela Garvin posted seven and six kills, respectively, while senior libero Getsemani Carrasco had 18 digs.

On Wednesday at Denton, Texas, the Pioneers scored the first 10 points of the night and handed the Greyhounds a 25-17, 25-19, 25-15 shellacking.

TWU (12-4, 4-1 LSC) posted a season-high 16 assists, its most in a match in more than 10 years, to extend the program's best start in a season since 2015.

Sophomore setter Grace Reynolds notched half of them, a personal-best eight, including four in the opening barrage. She now leads the LSC in aces with 28 for the campaign.

Back-to-back kills by freshman outside hitter Kaia Saylor took TWU to set point, and freshman middle blocker Kady Hansen's kill finished it off.

After going in front 4-2 with three consecutive points in Game 2, the Hounds fell behind 8-7 on a kill by freshman outside hitter Malia Viernes. A pair of aces from junior libero/defensive specialist Luna Franca helped make it 11-7 and TWU stayed in control.

ENMU forged early ties at 5-5 and 9-9 in the third set. After a kill by senior middle blocker Deziree Flowers gave the Hounds a one-point lead, the Pioneers responded with a 5-0 run that included two aces by Reynolds, a kill by Viernes and two ENMU attack errors.

Saylor had a match-high 14 kills while Reynolds posted her eighth double-double with 17 assists and 11 digs. ENMU got 10 kills and four block assists from Garvin.

ENMU played St. Edward's on Saturday at Austin, and visits Midwestern State on Wednesday.

Soccer teams fall – Freshman defender Erica Brelove scored about seven minutes into the second half and TWU made it stand up for a 1-0 Lone Star Conference women's soccer win over ENMU on Wednesday night at Greyhound Stadium.

Brelove, the LSC's current defensive player of the week for the second time this season, scored her second goal of the campaign on a header off a corner kick by junior defender Reyne Islas. It would be hard for ENMU (1-6-4, 0-4-1 LSC) to come back – the Pioneers (9-1-1, 4-1-0) have allowed only two goals all season.

TWU is currently tied for first place in league standings with St. Mary's (5-2-4, 4-1-0).

Both teams finished with five shots on goal, but the Pioneers had a 5-1 edge in corner kicks and were called for just seven fouls to 14 for ENMU.

The Hounds played at Angelo State on Saturday, beginning a stretch of five road matches out of seven to end the regular year. Their next outing is on Saturday at St. Mary's.

On the men's side, West Texas A&M did all its scoring in a stretch of just under nine minutes in the opening stanza and blanked ENMU 3-0 in the LSC opener for both teams at Canyon, Texas.

Sophomore midfielder Matteo Landais scored the second goal for WT (4-3-2 overall) and assisted on the other two tallies, by junior midfielder Thoe Bennetts just over five minutes in and by sophomore forward Dylan Watson in the 14th minute.

WT outshot the Hounds on goal 11-6 as sophomore goalkeeper Asaf Kristal earned the shutout, and had an 11-1 margin in corner kicks. Sophomore Paul Waschkau relieved starting keeper Hugo Sacco for ENMU shortly after WT's early blitz ended and had a career high-tying eight saves.

ENMU hosted 16th-ranked St. Mary's on Saturday night at Greyhound Stadium. Next up for the Hounds is a Wednesday trip to Lubbock Christian.