Javelinas turn back Zias

Freedom New Mexico

KINGSVILLE, Texas — Kelsey Washington and Lauryn Lozano each had 14 kills and Bethany Friesenhahn just missed a double-double as Texas A&M-Kingsville avenged an early-season Lone Star Conference volleyball loss to Eastern New Mexico University on Thursday night with a 25-21, 25-21, 23-25, 25-21 win over the Zias.

Friesenhahn had nine kills and 17 digs for the Javs (11-9, 5-8 LSC), who lost to ENMU in five games earlier. Kingsville had a 10-5 edge in aces, led by Sondra Cui with three.

Junior outside hitter Amber Durand had a double-double for ENMU (5-16, 1-11) with 13 kills and 11 digs, while senior middle blocker Jessica King had 11 kills and three block assists.

The teams exchanged leads in Game 1 until a kill by Lakeshia Craft put the Javelinas in front for good 10-9. Kingsville never got ahead by more than five points, closing it out on a kill by Washington.

The second game was also nip-and-tuck. Durand’s kill opened a 13-10 lead for the Zias, but the Javs responded with a 5-0 run including two aces by Cui, then erased a 20-18 deficit with seven of the last eight points.

ENMU overcame a 16-12 deficit in the third set, scoring the final three points on kills by King and senior Kristen Beck and a Kingsville attack error.

The fourth set was also tight. ENMU led 10-9 after a kill from junior Evelyn Escobar, but the Javelinas scored the next four points and managed to stay in front from there, ending it on an ace by Stephanie Johns.

ENMU is back in action on Saturday with a 1 p.m. (MDT) conference match against Incarnate Word in San Antonio.