Friday, September 03, 2010
Box Score
CANYON, TEXAS — Amber Durand (So., OH, Onalaska, Wash./Onalaska HS/Columbia Basin) and Jessica King (Jr., MB, Las Cruces, N.M/Oñate HS) combined for 25 kills, but the Eastern New Mexico University volleyball team (0-1) dropped a 3-1 (25-20, 23-25, 12-25, 17-25) decision in its season opener against Dallas Baptist, Friday morning at the BritKare Lady Buff Classic, hosted by West Texas A&M.
The Zias captured the first set by a 25-20 score, giving returning head coach Mike Maguire his first win in a set since taking a 31-29 decision in the third set of the 2006 season finale at Lubbock Christian on Halloween night.
King’s kill gave Eastern the first point of the match, as ENMU opened up a 6-1 lead in the opening set and never trailed. The Patriots managed to close to within 12-11, but a 3-0 Zia run, capped by a Kristen Beck (Jr., MB, Odessa, Texas/Odessa HS/Midland) gave Eastern a 15-11 cushion. Dallas Baptist pulled to within a point again, at 17-16, on a kill from Kaylyn Fink. After the teams exchange points, Eastern turned a 19-18 lead into a 24-19 advantage with a 5-1 run, which included a kill and two service aces from Beck. A King kill gave ENMU the 25-20 win.
With the second set knotted at 19-all, the Patriots scored four straight points, but the Zias pulled to within 24-23 on a kill from King and three DBU attack errors, but Becky Swann’s kill gave the Patriots the set.
Dallas Baptist used a .400 attack percentage to take a 15-7 lead in the third set, on the way to a 25-12 win. The Patriots closed the match with a 25-17 win in the fourth set.
Veronica Valdez-Kent (Sr., S, Canyon, Texas/Canyon HS) finished with 35 assists and 11 digs, while Durand had a team-high 13 kills along with seven digs. Beck finished with seven kills, three aces and two blocks. King chipped in 12 kills and a career-high 10 digs. Swann paced DBU with 12 kills, while Cameron Hartson had 20 digs.
The Eastern New Mexico University volleyball team will continue play at the BritKare Lady Buff Classic, this afternoon, when they play St. Edwards University.