Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
ENMU senior middle blocker and Dora High grad Randi Crandall beats the block attempt of Sul Ross State junior Sarah Chavez for a point during Saturday's Lone Star Conference volleyball match at Steve Loy Arena.
Even in a year where Eastern New Mexico University's volleyball team has struggled mightily, the Greyhounds have taken solace that Sul Ross State has joined the Lone Star Conference.
Sophomore outside hitter/middle blocker Sophia Valdez posted 14 kills on 25 swings with only one error and tied her season high for blocks with four (two solos) as ENMU extended its winning streak in the series to 24 on Saturday with a 27-25, 25-18, 25-20 LSC victory at Steve Loy Arena.
The Alpine, Texas-based Lobos, who won the first 11 matches in the series but haven't won since, also dropped a 21-25, 25-22, 26-24, 25-18 non-league decision to ENMU on Sept. 20 in an LSC Volleyball Challenge match at Steve Loy Arena.
In a series which started in September 1977, the Lobos' early winning streak finally ended with a three-game sweep by ENMU at then-Greyhound Arena on Sept. 2, 1982. Sul Ross has won just 10 sets in the series since then.
It was also the first sweep of the season for the Hounds (5-18, 2-10 LSC).
Game 1 was nip-and-tuck until ENMU, trailing 20-17, went on a 5-0 run to assume the lead. The Lobos (2-16, 2-10) rallied back to lead 24-23, but the Hounds finished on a 4-1 run that was capped by senior middle blocker Randi Crandall's kill on set point.
ENMU then scored the first five points in the second set and never let Sul Ross get closer than three. Game 3 also seesawed at times, but Valdez punctuated a match-ending 6-0 run with three kills, including on match point.
Crandall finished with 11 kills and senior outside hitter Darcy Dodd added 10 for the Hounds. Senior outside hitter Halle Sanders earned seven kills and 12 digs while freshman setter Cayla Reyes posted 36 assists and nine digs.
For Sul Ross, junior Cassandra Espinoza and sophomore Natalie Hernandez notched nine kills apiece, and Espinoza also had 12 digs. Sophomore Eliana Mata finished with 21 assists.
ENMU has four mitches left, finishing its road slate at Texas A&M-Kingsville on Friday and at Texas A&M International on Saturday.
