Midwestern State hands Zias three-game loss

Freedom New Mexico

WICHITA FALLS, Texas — Senior middle blocker Krissa Johnson and sophomore middle blocker Alysha Pritt combined for 25 kills — matching the entire Eastern New Mexico University total — as Midwestern State handed the Zias a 30-23, 30-22, 30-16 Lone Star Conference volleyball loss on Saturday.

The Mustangs (24-4, 8-2 LSC) bounced back from a loss to league-leading West Texas A&M on Thursday night that snapped a nine-match winning streak. Midwestern has now won 22 of its last 24 outings.

The Zias (4-24, 0-11) were led by seven kills from sophomore setter Caitlin Murphy. Senior outside hitter Randi Egley had five total blocks, including three solos, while sophomore setter Heidi Geyer had a team-high 16 digs.

Midwestern took control from the start, breaking out of a 5-5 tie to open an 18-10 lead in the first game. The closest the Zias came after that was five points.

Neither team led by more than two points in the second game until two kills by Johnson keyed a 3-0 run which snapped a 14-14 tie. The Mustangs eventually led by 10 points after finishing a 14-4 run.

Midwestern State scored the first four points in the third game and never relinquished the lead. ENMU pulled to 14-12 on an ace by Geyer before the Mustangs wrapped it up with 16 of the final 20 points.

The Zias will finish out their season with a 7 p.m. conference match on Thursday against Southeastern Oklahoma at Greyhound Arena.

Lone Star Conference

Saturday

Midwestern State 3, ENMU 0

ENMU 23 22 16

Midwestern State 30 30 30

Individual statistics

Kills — Caitlin Murphy 7, three tied with 5. Midwestern State, Krissa Johnson 13, Alysha Pritt 12, Sesley Graves 9, Rachel Gilmore 7. Block solos — Eastern New Mexico, Randi Egley 3. Midwestern State, none. Block assists — Eastern New Mexico, Murphy 4, Veronica Valdez 3, Vanessa Wilcox 3, Egley 2. Midwestern State, Pritt 2, four tied with 1. Digs — Eastern New Mexico, Heidi Geyer 16. Midwestern State, Shay Velasquez 18. Aces — Eastern New Mexico, four tied with 1. Midwestern State, Pritt 3, Becky Smith 2, Velasquez 2, Karoline Damjanovic 1, Carley Schick 1. Assists — Eastern New Mexico, Karen McIntyre 19. Midwestern State, Allison Schreiber 42. Records — Eastern New Mexico 4-24 (0-11), Midwestern State 4-4 (8-2). T — 1:15. A — 207.