LUBBOCK, Texas — The Eastern New Mexico volleyball team turned in a stellar defensive performance but ultimately fell to Lubbock Christian 3-1 (25-20, 21-25, 9-25, 23-25).
Junior Jasmine Gannon recorded her third double-double of the season as she finished with a team-high 11 kills to go along with 11 digs. The Hounds tallied 14 blocks as a squad, the fifth highest mark in a four-set game throughout the entire Lone Star Conference this year.
Despite surrendering the match’s first two points, the Hounds came out red-hot offensively in the first set finishing with a game-high 15 kills and a .394 attack percentage. The Lady Chaps led half way through the frame 11-10 before a kill from junior Julie Tucker sparked a 5-0 Eastern run as the Hounds took the first set 25-20.
ENMU jumped out to an early 8-5 lead to begin the second set but were unable to hold on to the advantage. Late runs by the home team derailed the Hounds momentum as LCU rattled off five of the last six points and won the second frame with a 25-21 final.
The Hounds struggled in the third set and committed as many errors as kills with eight, as they finished the frame with a .000 hitting percentage. The home team secured an early 5-0 advantage that the Hounds never recovered from before dropping the set 25-9.
Early in the final set it appeared to be all Greyhounds as they were able to secure the first four points of the frame and led 22-21 late. The Chaps failed to give in and rattled of four of the final five points as they took the set 25-23.
Freshman Gracelyn Stubbs continues to improve on her first collegiate season as she finished with a career-high and led all competitors with eight blocks. Sophomore setter tallied 17 assists while junior M’Lee Vinson led the Hounds defensively with 14 digs.
The Hounds return to their home court next week with three consecutive games inside Greyhound Arena as they take the court against West Texas A&M, Western New Mexico and UT Permian Basin.
