LCU contingents turn back ENMU

Eastern New Mexico University’s volleyball team went toe to toe with Lubbock Christian in two of the three sets in Friday’s Lone Star Conference volleyball match before the Lady Chaps nailed down a 25-18, 25-13, 25-23 victory at Steve Loy Family Foundation Arena.

The match was the first for the Greyhounds after coach Sia Poyer stepped down earlier this week to deal with some health issues, the school said. First-year assistant Natalie Burdulis was named the program’s interim coach for the rest of the season.

“Our primary concern is the health of coach Poyer,” ENMU athletic director Kevin Fite said in a release from the school on Thursday. “We appreciate Sia’s commitment to ENMU athletics and the volleyball program. He continues to be a valuable resource to this institution.

“However, we agree that Sia needs to put his health and the interest of his family first. We will continue to explore ways for coach Poyer to contribute to this athletics department in the future. He is a tremendous asset and (highly respected at) ENMU.”

ENMU plans to begin a search for a new head coach at the conclusion of the season, the release said.

“I have complete confidence in Natalia’s ability to lead the team through the rest of the season and this transition,” Fite said. “I believe this is a great opportunity for her to demonstrate her coaching ability and leadership.”

A native of American Samoa, Poyer spent 14 seasons as an assistant at ENMU before becoming the head coach at Valdosta State (Ga.) in 2005, leading the Blazers to a 128-138 record over eight years.

He returned to take over the ENMU program in 2013. In 11-plus seasons – the 2020 campaign was canceled due to COVID-19 – he has compiled the third-most wins in program history with 110.

Against the Lady Chaps (6-7, 2-1 LSC), the Hounds were tied 18-18 in the opening set before LCU ran off the final seven points. With the score 20-18, the Lady Chaps got to set point on four consecutive ENMU attack errors before freshman defensive specialist Leddy Rae Guinn closed it out with a service ace.

ENMU scored the first two points of the second set on a kill from junior middle blocker Briana Hernandez and an ace from senior outside hitter Halle Sanders, but the Lady Chaps ran off a 10-1 spurt to go up 12-4 and stayed in control. Senior setter Kayton Genenbacher with a kill on set point.

Two aces by freshman setter Cayla Reyes got the Hounds off to a quick start in Game 3. LCU took its first lead at 7-5 on back-to-back kills from junior outside hitter Lily Bickley, but the Hounds tied it 15-15 on a block by senior middle blocker Randi Crandall and went in front 19-18 on a combination block from Crandall and Hernandez.

Hernandez then got a solo block to pull ENMU even at 21-21, but the Lady Chaps went in front for good after that and finished it on junior middle blocker Bryleigh Schweer’s kill on match point.

Junior outside hitter Payton Murray had 14 kills for the Lady Chaps, while Bickley and Schweer added eight apiece for LCU. Junior defensive specialist Abby Benitez led the team in digs with 14, while Genenbacher posted 37 assists and nine digs.

For the Hounds, sophomore outside hitter/middle blocker Sophie Valdez had a team high 11 kills, followed by Sanders with nine. Crandall had four total blocks, including two solos, and Hernandez tallied one solo and two assists.

Junior defensive specialist Imahni Brown led ENMU in digs with 11. Crandall and Reyes each had two aces, while Reyes posted 19 assists and fellow freshman Angelina Sanchez collected 10.

ENMU was slated to host 14th-ranked Angelo State on Saturday. This week, the Hounds travel to Cameron for a 5 p.m. (MDT) tilt on Wednesday before hosting rival and ninth-ranked West Texas A&M in a 2 p.m. start on Saturday.

Women’s soccer – LCU (4-3-1, 2-1 LSC) rolled to a 5-0 LSC women’s soccer victory over ENMU on Wednesday night in Lubbock.

The Lady Chaps quickly took the lead on a goal by senior midfielder Kenley Blevins 13 minutes into the contest, and freshman midfielder Journey Curs made it 2-0 at halftime with a tally in the 29th minute.

LCU added second-half scores from sophomore defender Claire Jacobson and freshman midfielders Ella Spiller and McKenzie Jost.

The Lady Chaps dominated the statistical side of things, posting a 14-2 margin over the Hounds (2-4-1, 1-2) in shots on goal, although the teams were even in corner kicks 2-2. Freshman Joyce Willmott played most of the way in goal for ENMU and collected seven saves, while Clovis High grad Aja Gonzales earned her first collegiate save in just over three minutes of action.

ENMU was slated to host Texas-Tyler in a conference matchup on Saturday. The Hounds’ next outing is on Wednesday when they welcome Midwestern State to Steve Loy Family Foundation Stadium.