Zias deeper in 2004

PORTALES — Eastern New Mexico University kept its streak of 15-straight winning seasons alive last season, but just barely, putting on a late charge last fall to finish 16-15.

This year, the Zias have considerably higher goals.

“We turned it around last year (after a 5-10 start) and that was a good accomplishment for our team, said Anna Bellum, a 5-foot-10 outside hitter from Albuquerque who transferred to ENMU last season from Garden City (Kan.) Community College. “We’re kind of counting on that as a carryover this year.”

The Zias, who lost their only two seniors to injury last year before the season even started, have a much more experienced group this time. Four of the six starters return, along with senior libero Jessica Weeks, from a team that tied with Abilene Christian for second (7-3) in the Lone Star Conference South Division.

ENMU opens the regular season Sept. 3-4 with four matches in a round-robin tournament at Mesa State College in Grand Junction, Colo. The Zias are slated to host an alumni team in a 7 p.m. Friday tuneup match at Greyhound Arena.

“Depth-wise, we’re a lot stronger than we were a year ago,” said ENMU coach Mike Maguire, beginning his 18th season at the helm. “Our practices have been very competitive. We have a good chemistry going, and things are a lot more positive.”

Setter Margie Goble, one of the would-be seniors who missed the 2003 campaign due to injury (torn ACL), returns as the school’s career and single-season record-holder in assists. She’s competing at that position with junior Amber McCarthy, a transfer from Orange Coast (Calif.) CC.

“They’ve been very competitive in practice, and very positive towards each other,” Maguire said. “We may find a way to play them at the same time sometimes.”

Maguire said the Zias are particularly deep at middle blocker, where 6-foot senior Emilie Rodman and 5-10 sophomore Grace George return. Adding depth are 6-foot juco transfers Amber Davis and Lindsay Schiely, both juniors.

Bellum, who led the team in kills (481) and blocks (104) last season, and 5-10 senior Kelley McGinty return at outside hitter. Backing them up are Portales sophomore Kristen Van Wettering and Fort Sumner senior Kristi Britain, who last played in 2002.

The Zias also hope to get help from junior defensive specialist Olivia Boan of Portales and junior libero Jenna Carrasco, a transfer from Lamar (Colo.) CC.

ENMU is chasing seven-time South and five-time conference tournament champion West Texas A&M in the division, along with ACU.

“They’re definitely a great team, but I don’t think there’s any reason why we shouldn’t beat them,” Bellum said of WT. “And the other goal is to go to nationals; I’ve never been to a national tournament on any level.

“For me, as a personal goal, I just want to find more consistency to my game.”

Maguire said the makeup is there to have a strong season, hopefully strong enough to challenge WT.

“The way I look at it is they’re the team to beat until someone proves otherwise,” he said of the Lady Buffs. “We had a great run at the end (last year) after a rough start, but this is a better group all around.”