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Lady Buffs Fight Off Eastern New Mexico In Four To Win Ninth-Straight
Oct. 7, 2003
PORTALES, N.M. -- The West Texas A&M University volleyball team fought to a tough four-game (30-28, 26-30, 30-28, 30-28) victory over border-rival Eastern New Mexico Tuesday night at ENMU's Greyhound Arena at Portales, N.M., to extend its NCAA-II record to 77 consecutive victories in matches vs. conference opponents. It was the Lady Buffs' ninth-straight win overall and 22nd in a row over the Zias.
A trio of freshman led WTAMU Tuesday night, as outside hitter Ambra Clark tied a match-high with 23 kills, while fellow outside hitters Jessica Scherr and Rachel Altman added 16 and 14 kills respectively. Scherr posted a double-16 on the night, as she added 16 digs.
Senior setter Kendra Morgan, returned from her one-match absence due to injury, tallying 39 assists and 14 digs.
The Lady Buffs repeatedly fought off ENMU attacks, recording a whopping 109 digs in the match. Senior libero Kacie Hyatt, who on Monday was named the LSC South Defensive Player of the Week for the third time this season, logged a match-high 27 digs, leading a pentet of Lady Buffs in double-figure digs. Behind Hyatt were sophomore defensive specialists Brittani Bell and Libby Garza posted 17 digs apiece, Scherr's 16 and Morgan's 14.
Scherr and fellow freshman, middle blocker Megan Spivey, tied match-highs with five blocks for WTAMU, who improved to 17-5 overall, and 3-0 in the LSC South. Despite their recent victory march, the Lady Buffs dropped out of Tuesday's AVCA Top 25 Poll, the first time since 1995 the poll did not include WTAMU.
ENMU was led by Anna Bellum, who shared match-high honors with WTAMU's Clark with 23 kills, followed by Emilie Rodman's 16 kills. Grace George tallied 13 kills and Kelley McGinty added 10 kills for the Zias, who fell to 7-11 overall, 2-1 in LSC South action.
The Zias' Jennifer Bullock dished out a match-high 59 assists, while McGinty logged a team-high 20 digs and George tied a match-high with five blocks.
Tuesday's match showed signs of being a back-and-forth slug match all night long right off the bat, as ENMU opened up a 15-11 lead in game one. However, WTAMU rallied back, taking a 19-18 lead and forcing a Zia timeout.
The game's ninth tie came at 23-all, before the Lady Buffs rattled off four-straight points, starting with two kills from Scherr, who then combined with Spivey for a block, then a kill from Spivey made it 27-23, forcing another Zia timeout.
After ENMU closed to 29-28, Morgan closed the door with a kill to claim game one in the name of WTAMU.
The Lady Buffs opened the second game with an 8-5 lead following a kill from Clark. WTAMU had a 16-13 lead after a Scherr kill, before ENMU went on a 10-3 streak to take a 23-19 lead after the Lady Buffs mishandled a Zia serve. ENMU continued on to win game tow, 30-26.
The Zias started the third game much like they ended the second, opening a 4-1 lead on a kill from Bellum. However, the Lady Buffs rallied back to take a 15-12 lead after a Morgan kill. WTAMU had several three-point leads, but couldn't extend them, as ENMU would rally back, eventually taking a 22-21 lead and forcing WTAMU head coach Tony Graystone to call a timeout.
Spivey and Scherr came out of the timeout taking turns for a kill, to give the Lady Buffs a 25-22 lead. Yet the Zias came back, hanging around and pulling within 29-28 on two-straight kills from Bellum. However, Scherr had a tip over the ENMU defense, as WTAMU won the third gmae 30-28.
The Zias zipped to a 19-13 lead in the fourth frame. After WTAMU made it 19-14, Graystone called timeout and rallied the troops. The Lady Buffs then reeled off a 12-5 run, taking the lead at 25-24 after an ENMU kill attempt sailed deep and not playable, forcing a Zia timeout. Seven of WTAMU's points in the streak were off of ENMU errors.
After a kill from ENMU's Rodman, the Zias again found themselves looking at a 29-28 deficit and on the verge of swinging the momentum in their favor.
However, Scherr and the Lady Buffs had other thoughts, as the freshman drilled a kill off a Zia defender to end the game and the match.
WTAMU returns to action on the road this weekend, traveling to Angelo, Texas, to take on the Angelo State Rambelles on Friday, Oct. 10 at 7 p.m., before continuing to Abilene, Texas, to meet the Abilene Christian Wildcats on Saturday, Oct. 11 at 2 p.m.
The Lady Buffs return home on Oct. 17-18, hosting the WTAMU Tournament at The Box.
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