Thursday, November 05, 2009

CANYON, TEXAS—  Senior libero Caitlin Murphy (Amarillo, Texas/Tascosa HS) returned to her home area of Amarillo for the final match of her highly decorated career, but the Eastern New Mexico University volleyball team (6-23; LSC 0-13) dropped a 3-0 (13-25, 14-25, 18-25) decision to fifth-ranked West Texas A&M (31-3; LSC 13-0) in Lone Star Conference action, Thursday evening at The Box in Canyon, Texas. Murphy concluded her ENMU career as the programs leader in digs, with 1,930 over 124 matches played.

The Lady Buffs scored nine of the first 10 points in the opening set, forcing the Zias to take a timeout. The teams traded points after play resumed and West Texas called their own time out after a Jessica King (So., MB, Las Cruces, N.M./Onate HS) block made the score 12-3. Eastern rallied to within five points, 17-12 on a run which included a kill and service ace from Veronica Valdez-Kent (Jr., OH, Canyon, Texas/Canyon HS), but ENMU called their second timeout after three straight points gave the Lady Buffs a 20-12 advantage. Following the timeout, WT outscored the Zias 5-1 to win the set by a 25-13 score. The Zias held a 3-2 edge in blocks during the set, including two from Valdez-Kent.

Eastern scored the opening two points of the second set, but the Lady Buffs scored the next five, taking a 3-2 lead on a kill from Laura Prinsen. Eastern broke the momentum with a kill from King to pull within 5-3, but WT scored the next four points to expand their lead to 9-3, forcing a Zia time out. When play resumed, the Zias scored on a kill from Valdez-Kent, as Eastern scored seven of the set’s next 13 points, leading to West Texas A&M calling timeout with a 15-10 lead. The Lady Buffs regained the momentum at that point and pulled away for the 25-14 win.

Eastern scored the first two points in the third set as well, taking the lead on a ball-handling error, as the Zias charged to a 3-1 edge. The Lady Buffs rallied to tie the set at three-all, but the Zias took a 4-3 lead on a kill from King. WT took a 5-4 lead on an ENMU ball-handling error and forced ENMU to use their first timeout after seizing a 7-4 advantage on a kill from Melissa Harper. West Texas A&M took a 20-9 lead before the Zias used an 8-4 run capped by a Madison Rhoades (Fr.,OH, Rio Rancho, N.M./Rio Rancho HS) kill to pull within 24-18 before WT closed out the match on a Lauren Purdy kill.

Rhoades posted a .286 attack percentage with five kills, while Megan Longoria (Fr., MB, Del Valle, Texas/Del Valle High School) hit .250. Valdez-Kent finished with seven kills and 15 assists.

The Eastern New Mexico University volleyball team has concluded its 2009 season.