9/3/2022 | Women’s Volleyball | Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

DENTON, Texas – Eastern New Mexico Volleyball ended their weekend with a spilt at the Denton Volleyfest at Kitty Magee Court on Saturday afternoon. The Hounds bested East Central University 3-0 in its morning match, while falling 3-0 to Missouri Southern State University. The Hounds move to 6-3, while ECU slip to 2-7, with MSSU moving to 5-3.

GAME ONE: ENMU 3, ECU 0

Eastern started the match on the front foot, jumping out to a slight 12-10 lead from a 5-0 run. In the run, Jordan O’Connor-Dempsey two kills, while Kali Nelson and Adriana Puni had one kill, and Mikaela Garvin posted a block. From then, ENMU ended the set on a 13-5 streak with eight kills in the run and an Anjolina Perez service ace to take a 25-10 set win.

The Tigers started the second frame on top 10-7, then pushed its lead to 16-15. However, the Greyhounds connected for the rest of the set, taking the stanza 25-19, ending on a 10-3 stretch. The turnaround started with four straight points to set the core at 19-16, with Stubbs posting a service ace and kills from Puni and O’Connor-Dempsey. ENMU closed the set with the final three points, with a kill from Perez, block assists from Garvin and Gracelyn Stubbs, and a service ace from Getsemani Carrasco.

Ahead 2-0 in the match, Tigers picked up an early set lead 11-8. Each team went back and forth, setting both teams at 20 points each. At that point, the Greyhounds took control of the set and the match, ending the set on a 5-1 run for a 25-21 set win, and a 3-0 sweep of East Central. ENMU took the lead from an ECU error then Puni posted a kill for a 22-20 lead. After a Tigers rebuttal, Garvin posted two kills and Carrasco closed the match with a service ace.

NOTABLE STATS

  • The Hounds outpaced the Tigers in kills, 52-32, digs, 58-50, and assists, 47-30.
  • Garvin posted 12 kills in the match, with Perez also hitting double-digits at 11 kills.
  • Jaylynn Nihipali set up 25 assists, with Qitana Sapiga adding 17 assists.
  • Carrasco provided a match high 22 digs in the match.
  • Garvin led the defensive effort with four total blocks

GAME TWO: MSSU 3, ENMU 0

Eastern battled in the first set, holding a slight lead after a five point stretch 12-8. In the streak, Puni posted a pair of kills, O’Connor-Dempsey and Nelson added a kill of their own, and Stubbs fired a service ace. However, the Lions replied with a run of their own to take a 15-14 lead. Each team traded points, pitting the score to 22-22. MSSU would capture the first set with a 4-1 run for a 25-23 win in the first set.

The second set started with the Lions holding a slight lead but use multiple small runs to slowly increase its lead. Eastern prevent big runs from separating the teams, but Missouri Southern State capped off the second set with a 25-18 win. The third set started with a 6-0 run to jump ahead of the Hounds. Eastern provided a small response with a 4-0 streak, but the Lions supplied a 9-2 run to push its lead to 15-6. ENMU did its best to contain MSSU, but the Lions closed out the match and set with a 25-13 set win, and 3-0 match win.

NOTABLE STATS

  • The Lions held the edge in kills (38-28) and digs (60-54), while Eastern had the advantage for blocks (9-5).
  • Garvin and O’Connor-Dempsey each finished with six kills, with Stubbs and Nelson contributing five kills.
  • ENMU’s offense was directed by Nihipali and Sapiga, posting 12 assists and 11 assists, respectively.
  • Defensively, Carrasco posted 14 digs, while Nihipali added 11 digs.
  • At the net, Stubbs posted four blocks (two solo and two block assists), with Nelson and Garvin have three total blocks (Garvin had three solo blocks, Nelson had three block assists).

FROM THE SOURCE

“I’m proud of us for our effort this weekend. Going 3-1 this weekend against good competition was very impressive,” said Head Volleyball Coach Sia Poyer. “Hopefully this will help us with preparation for the LSC Crossover Tournament next week,”.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

  • The Hounds bested the Tigers for the first time in program history.
  • Nihipali raked up a career best 25 assists in the match, while Perez had a career best outing for kills (11).
  • ENMU played against MSSU for the first time since 2008, where the Lions won 3-1.
  • Nihipali posted their first double-double of their career (12 assists, 11 digs).
  • ENMU head to Austin, Texas for its next matches at the LSC Crossover Tournament. The Greyhounds will face Oklahoma Christian on Thursday, Sept. 8, St. Edward’s, Friday, Sept. 9, and Texas A&M-Kingsville, Saturday, Sept. 10.