Silver City, N.M. – The Western New Mexico University volleyball team put up a thrilling five set match against Texas A&M University-Kingsville Friday night but fell short 3-2 (25-17, 20-25, 25-19, 24-26, 10-15). Mustangs had a chance to win the match in the fourth set but the Javelinas fought back late to force a fifth set.
WNMU as a team came away with 63 kills and hit a percentage of .250 overall. TAMUK finished with 65 kills and hit a .237 percentage overall.
Individually for the Mustangs, Shannon Rich had a breakout game hitting a .737 percentage on 16 kills. Heather Verrill was next in line with 15 kills followed by Samantha Haupeakui with 10. Leading in assists was Melanie Hughes with 31. Ashley Mataele led the team with 21 digs.
The Lady Mustangs jumped out to a quick lead in the first set, 8-3, thank to a few kills from Rich, Verrilll, and Kalie Lyle. Mataele also added three points on three serving aces. Texas cut the lead to three, 11-8, but Western answered back with kills from Verrill, Haupeakui, and Kelli McGhiey to make the set 18-5. Three attack errors from the Javelinas and a kill from Verrill pushed the Mustangs lead to nine, 20-11. WNMU would go on to win the set 25-17.
In the second set, Western kept pace with Texas as the score was knotted up 6-6. However, the Javelinas went on a hot streak and scored 10 straight points to make the score 16-6. Mustangs fought back late in the set and kill from McGhiey put them within four, 23-19, but this would not be enough as the Javelinas went on to take the set 25-20.
TAMUK looked to pull away in the third set as they pushed themselves to a 10-6 lead. Later in the set, a kill from Verrill tied the game at 11-11, then a Rich kill put the Mustangs ahead 13-12. Two serving aces from WNMU’s Cristal Carrizoza would then push their lead to four, 17-13. Western kept a steady lead throughout the set and would go on to win he set, 25-19, after a Texas attack error.
The Mustangs started off well in the beginning of the fourth set as they took a 6-1 lead. However, TAMUK would not go away easily as they went on 8-3 run to tie the score up, 10-10. WNMU answered back with a run of their own, 5-1, after kills from Verrill, McGheiy, and Hannah Tishlarich to make the score 15-11. Later in the set, a kill from Verrill made it a 24-22 Mustang lead. Just as WNMU looked to close the set and game, TAMUK found an extra gear and scored four points in a row to win the set, 26-24.
Momentum rolled into the fifth set for Texas as they jumped out to an early lead, 5-2. The Lady Mustangs were unable to break the three point deficit as the Javelinas went on to win the set and match, 15-10.
WNMU volleyball is now currently sitting on a 14-9 overall record and 6-6 conference record. Their next task will be this Friday as they travel to Cameron University with the game beginning at 5:30 Central Time.
